Grace: A Gift Received Without Cost, To Be Given Without Cost.

This gift of God has more than one purpose in the life of man. One of the definitions of 'grace' in Webster’s dictionary (as it pertains to theology) is: “the unmerited love and favor of God toward man; divine influence acting in man to make him pure and morally strong.”  

 

“Our justification comes from the grace of God.  Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life.”  CCC 1996.  (see also Mt. 10: 8.)

We’ve read the definitions of grace, but what about the accounts of people intervening to spread this favor of God towards those in great need?

Look at the older woman who has struggled for years, praying and waiting for just a slight break in her destitute life.  Her disinterested neighbors insist that God should take care of her needs, yet none of them realize that God’s help must come from them. Finally, one of her neighbors is moved with compassion and sees to the needs of this old woman. That is grace. 

Or the disenchanted young daughter who has lived a sheltered life with her mother and is despised by her siblings.  No matter what she does, her very demeanor infuriates those who should be forgiving not her, but themselves - as they have selfishly been putting her down out of jealousy. When her mother suddenly passes away, the siblings become devastated knowing she was the favorite. The young woman, seeing the mental crisis being experienced by her siblings, takes them under her tutelage and brings peaceful solutions of togetherness to her family. This is grace in its fullest.  

Or the two neighbors who constantly try to outdo each other, showing off and proving that they are the 'best' when their manhood needs acclamation.  Their attitudes bring nothing but disruption to both of their families. But one day, one of the men becomes ill with a devastating disability. His neighbor, once his adversary, feels compassion, stops unnecessary activity, and devotes much of his leisure time to caring for his neighbor. This is humility and grace in action.

Grace is not just a sign of God’s undeniable generosity, it is a gift of that turns pride into humility, bringing peace and harmony to our adversaries and turning them into grace-filled advocates.

“Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us.  But grace also includes the gifts that the Spirit grants us with his work, to enable us to collaborate in the salvation of others and in the growth of the Body of Christ, the Church.  There are sacramental graces, gifts proper to the different sacraments.  There are furthermore special graces, also called charisms after the Greek term used by St.Paul and meaning favor, gratuitous gift, benefit.  Whatever their character, sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles or of tongues, charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church.  They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church.”  CCC 2003.

As is true about all gifts from the Holy Spirit, none of them are at our personal disposal for individual praise.  f we are granted any gifts, we must use them solely for growth of the Kingdom of God.  If anyone is determined to not use the gifts freely given to us, he shall not receive them.  The worst thing is not to use gifts given us from God.  Our last decision will become the loss of God’s Grace. 

Ralph B. Hathaway, Grace 2021