God Calls the Imperfect: A Reflection on Vocatio et Perfectionis
By Alan Lee, St. Anthony BEC
Faith begins not in perfection, but in willingness to say “yes.” As the Latin maxim reminds us:
“Deus non vocat perfectos, sed vocatos perficit” — God does not call the perfect, but perfects the called.
Scripture shows the unlikely being called: Moses, reluctant and slow of speech, was sent to lead Israel (Exodus 4:10–12); David, the youngest and least esteemed, was chosen as king (1 Samuel 16:7); Peter, impulsive and flawed, was called to shepherd Christ’s Church (Luke 5:1–11). God’s call does not depend on human perfection; rather, it transforms imperfection into service.
A Call Perfected in Weakness
St. Paul reminds us:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).
Holiness is not a prerequisite for mission—it is the fruit of obedience. St. Augustine reflects, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You” (Confessions 1.1), reminding us that our initial limitations are the canvas for God’s grace.
The Laity and the Imperfect
The Catechism teaches that all the faithful are called to share in Christ’s mission (CCC 897–913). Lumen Gentium emphasizes the laity’s participation in Christ’s priestly, prophetic, and kingly office (LG 31). Service is not reserved for the flawless; our “yes,” offered in imperfection, allows God to perfect and work through us.
Living the Call Today
In daily life, embracing our limitations while stepping forward in faith is essential. The call may be to teach, to serve, to lead, or simply to love in ordinary ways. As St. John Paul II exhorted:
“Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors to Christ” (St. John Paul II’s inaugural homily on October 22, 1978.)
Each act of humble obedience becomes a seedbed of grace. By responding in weakness, we allow God’s perfecting hand to shape us, revealing His work fully in and through our imperfect lives.
This is why the Church invites us to say “yes” in whatever way we can—whether in teaching children, serving at the liturgy, joining the choir, helping in parish life, or simply offering a listening ear and a prayer. No act of love or service is too small. What matters is that we step forward with trust, knowing that God will do the perfecting.
Today, Christ’s voice echoes the same words He spoke on the shores of Galilee: “Follow Me.” Let us answer with courage, for in our “yes,” God begins His work of perfection.