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What
Is Grace?
Much has been written about grace. Some of it is simple to understand,
some of it is very complex. We want to focus on the simple.
Grace...
- is God in us, His essence in us, His dwelling in us.
- is a beautiful gift from God, totally unmerited. It is possible by Jesus'
death and resurrection and by the love of the Holy Spirit.
- Is miraculous, supernatural and very powerful.
- works with our free will and helps to bring about a change in our
lives.
- helps us to see our sins and character flaws (sometimes we are blinded to
them).
- helps us want to correct our flaws and rid ourselves of sin.
- gives us the power to correct the flaws and do away with our sinfulness.
- can be accepted by us or rejected by us.
Why Do We Want
To Focus On Grace?
In today's culture, with busy lives and unholy influence dominating our
media, entertainment, politics, books, movies, TV, games, news, radio,
popular leaders and more . . . thinking about falling completely in love
with God and thinking about obtaining grace is not front and center in
life for many.
Some participate in putting their faith into action. Love is a verb and
God calls each of us to complete holiness, so He wants more from
us. He wants our very life centered on Him. While many are on this road,
some of us do not yet identify with what that means or looks like in day-to-day
living.
For many it is uncommon to think about grace, recognize the opportunities,
recognize we must work to stay in the state of grace. Many do not know
or have forgotten we can receive Actual grace to help us be holy and bring
us to a complete love of God. With grace, slowly over time, (or for a
rare few, lightning bolt quick . . . like St. Paul) we can completely
or pretty near completely live the life God wants us to live. This is
a miracle of grace.
How Do We Obtain God's Grace?
It is available:
- in the Sacraments.
- in the Liturgy.
- In prayer and
Scripture reading and study.
- In spiritual education
programs.
- In the programs
or individual actions that reach out and help the poor and needy (physically,
mentally, spiritually, emotionally, financially poor and needy . . .
not just financially needy).
- in self-sacrifice
and bearing hardships patiently, offering them up to God.
 How Is It
One Could Reject Grace?
When we commit a mortal sin we fall out of the sanctifying grace we received
at Baptism. It is restored through the sacrament of Reconciliation. The
effects of Actual grace can be minimized if we are not reverent and sincere
in our participation of the Sacraments, prayer and worship service. The
effects of Actual grace can be minimized when we are insincere or perform
good works grudgingly.
We are called to live our faith fully. Of course, going to Holy Mass on
the Sabbath and Holy Days of Obligation are critical to staying in the
state of grace. Beyond this obligation there are many more opportunities
to obtain the beautiful gift of Actual grace to help us complete our sanctification,
fall completely in love with the Trinity and live the exact life God wants
us to live. When we do not participate in our faith beyond our Sunday
and Holy Day Obligation, we reject the gift and benefit of miraculous
Actual grace.
St.
Peter Church • 1891 Kaneville Road, Geneva, IL 60134
Phone: (630) 232-0124 • Fax: (630) 232-9262 • Email: writetostpeter@stpetergeneva.org
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