The Evidence of God’s Grace in Us

 

It is by act of grace we show that we are children of God.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 11th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, June 20th, 2023
Texts: 2 Corinthians 8: 1-9; Psalm 146: 1b-2.5-9a; Matthew 5:43-48 

Jesus calls us today to show the evidence of God’s grace in us. We do not show the evidence of grace when we act within human capacity. It is natural for us to act within our human capacity but act of grace to go beyond it. Christians are children of grace, not nature. Hence, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” It is natural to love those who love but it is act of grace to love our enemies. It is also natural to hate our enemies.  

It is by act of grace we show that we are children of God. We are Christians because we are now born of God. Hence, Jesus says, “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” God does good to all. His sun shines on both the evil and the good; His rains fall on both the just and the unjust. We show we are His children when we do good to all. Our love should have no preferences.  

What more are you doing than others? 

God demands more from us to justify His grace in us. Hence, He says, “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Today Jesus calls us to live a gracious life, life of grace.  

We see in the life of the people of Macedonia the life of grace in today’s first reading. It is not natural to humans to be happy during afflictions and give when there is a few. The people of Macedonia showed act of grace by their joy in afflictions and giving in poverty. Hence, Apostle Paul says, “We want you to know, brethren, about the grace of God which has been shown in the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part.” 

They showed an overflow of God’s grace in their life

The people of Macedonia did not just live life of grace, they showed an overflow of God’s grace in their life. This is clear as they beg to give in their poverty. In the words of Apostle Paul: “For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favour of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.” This is touching and inspiring. The challenge to us today is to emulate them and live life of abundant grace. 

Prayer

God our Father, we thank You for bestowing Your grace upon us in abundance; help us to show the abundance of Your grace in our daily living. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke