What the world needs now is GRACE, GRACE, GRACE!

What is it?

Grace is THE GIFT OF GOD’S LOVE AND FAVOUR. It is His blessing and holiness bestowed upon us, although we are unworthy, to save us, to purify us, to strengthen us, to sanctify us, to teach us, to inspire us, to guide us, to strengthen us, to transform us into people of love, mercy and justice that will serve and please God.

We are not worthy of the gift of God’s grace, yet God desires to pour out this blessing upon souls to bring us to repentance, to salvation and to holiness.

It is grace that opens our hearts and our minds to see into the eternal horizon, recognizing this life as a ‘testing ground’ and ‘a bridge’ to an annuity of tomorrows, a promise of immortality, peace and joy fulfilled by the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

In this reflection, we will explore God’s gift of grace and consider how we can assist God in His plan of salvation.

GRACE COMES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST – GOD INCARNATE

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

“From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1: 16-17

GOD’S GRACE OF SALVATION

God’s gift of salvation was purchased for souls through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus came into the world to save it.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18

Through the Blood of Christ we are reconciled to God, the Father.

“We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved” Acts 15:11

GOD’S GRACE INSPIRES RECIPROCITY

God’s grace is a free gift, a gift we are unworthy of and it comes to us with great DIVINE EXPECTATION.

GOD DESIRES TO BE LOVED!

Consider for a moment a man in love that gives the gift of an engagement ring to the woman he loves. This gift is a ‘free gift’. It is unlikely that the package will include a price tag that reveals the price of the gift or an invoice to be paid by the woman. Yet this free gift comes with great hope that it will motivate a reciprocal love and a lifelong commitment.

GOD DESIRES REMEMBRANCE OF HIS SACRIFICE

At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist with these words:

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'”  Luke 22:19

Every time we go to the Lord’s Table to receive His Body and Blood we receive grace.   Every Holy Sacrament comes with a bestowing of grace.  If you cannot receive the Eucharist due to health issues, participate in the Mass virtually and trust that Jesus will bestow His grace upon you in a spiritual communion.

THE PRICE OF GOD’S GRACE OF SALVATION MUST MOTIVATE LOVE

When we remember Jesus dying on the Cross to save us from our sins and reconcile us to God, The Father, we are humbled to be so deeply loved and desired. WE KNOW THE INFINITE PRICE OF THE SAVING GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST!

Like the man in love wanting to engage the woman he loves, Christ longs to engage us in an intimate, lifelong communion of purity and holiness.

IMAGINE THE SOUL AS A PRECIOUS CHALICE

A chalice is a ‘consecrated vessel’, i.e., it belongs to God. God’s instruments are cleansed and rendered pure through the GRACE OF SALVATION THAT COMES FROM JESUS CHRIST.   In order to be useful to God, the chalice must be consecrated to Him. It must be empty and clean prepared to receive the GRACE OF SANCTIFICATION.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD’S GIFT OF SANCTIFICATION

Purified by the Blood of Christ and reconciled to God, we are then filled with God’s Holy Spirit and blessed to become His children, disciples of Jesus Christ.

“God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.” 1 Peter 1:2

God’s grace is a GENERATIVE GIFT THAT BEARS FRUIT.   God’s grace motivates love and mercy. It motivates peace and thanksgiving. It motivates selflessness, compassion, kindness and charity.

HOWEVER GOD’S GRACE CAN BE REJECTED.

God comes knocking in many ways, ready to bestow upon us the gifts of His Grace, but these gifts can be unrecognized and rejected. Sometimes God comes to us in the form of a beggar longing to open our hearts to the great need for charity and generosity. But we may remain blind to this grace if we are not looking for Jesus and listening attentively to His call to holiness.

FAITH IS REQUIRED

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians3:26

HUMILITY IS REQUIRED

“And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

GOD’S GIFTS OF GRACE MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED

The world sees success in ‘material ways’ but spiritual success is more difficult to discern.

The test of do we have God’s grace in our lives may be in the answer to this question:

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PLEASE GOD?

GOD’S GRACE ALWAYS MOTIVATES GOOD WORKS. GOD’S GRACE IS LOST WHEN THERE IS NO MINDFUL RECOGNITION OF THE NEED FOR RECIPROCITY.

If God’s grace is not received with love, there will be no fruit, no positive transformation, no healing, no spiritual conversion, no positive growth.

LET US THANK GOD FOR LIVING WITH US AND IN US

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13

GRACE IS PERPETUAL

God’s grace is always available to us. It is like a fount of living water. God continues to pour out His grace upon us if we continue to draw near to Him. Let us, therefore, be humble and repent of our sins and pray for His Grace.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” Matthew 3:8

GOD’S GRACE ALLOWS US TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS HOLY PRESENCE

It is not enough to acknowledge God’s presence in Church. We are called to be His Church, a humble dwelling place where He can be perpetually adored and served.

“For this is what the high and exalted One says– he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15

GRACE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL WHO WILL TO RECEIVE IT

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

JOIN THE MERCY MOVEMENT

There is a peace movement on earth that creates a solemn moment of powerful fraternity every day. This is a movement that is uniting believers of Jesus Christ in a PRECIOUS MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST EVERY DAY AT THE TIME JESUS DIED FOR US 3pm. At this time we remember the PRICE OF OUR SALVATION. We stand at the Foot of the Cross of Jesus thanking Jesus for the GRACE OF REDEMPTION. We pray for an outpouring of grace upon our sinful, suffering world to bring souls to repentance, to silence the power of evil, to bring healing and positive transformation through the great love of Jesus Christ, ONE with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Learn more here.