In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34 by Fernandez Francis

Author:Fernandez, Francis [Fernandez, Francis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scepter UK Ltd
Published: 2011-12-18T05:00:00+00:00

77.2 The Lord never withholds his assistance.

The Lord emphasizes the paramount importance of divine grace in his parable of the vine and the branches.[477] Christ, sent by the Father, is the source of the Church’s whole apostolate. Clearly then, the fruitfulness of the apostolate of lay people depends on their living union with Christ.[478] Jesus makes sure He leaves no room for doubt: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.[479]

As St Paul wrote to the Philippians: God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.[480] God’s grace is indispensable if we are to will and to work meritorious deeds. It is essential for us to keep in mind, however, this vital distinction: grace builds on nature; it does not replace our nature. We have to do our part. St Augustine has likened our need for divine assistance to our need for light by which to see.[481] It is the eye that sees. The light allows the eye to fulfil its nature. Similarly, divine grace allows us to will and to work, but it never overrides our freedom. The awesome reality of our dependence on God should inspire us to a constant prayer of thanksgiving. God is always disposed to send us the necessary graces.

Through the liturgy the Church continually asks us to pray for divine help. If we ask with humility and faith the Lord will always heed our request. St Francis de Sales illustrated God’s generosity with these words: A tender mother leads along her little child, helps him and holds him up as long as she sees need for it, and lets him take a few steps by himself in places that are very level and not too difficult. Now she takes him by the hand and holds him steady; now she takes him up in her arms and carries him. It is thus too that Our Lord himself takes constant care to lead forward his children, that is, those who possess charity.[482]

This divine solicitude should never be a motive for passivity. On the contrary, we should find God’s grace a steadfast source of strength in our ascetical struggle and apostolate. We have to work as if everything depended on us. At the same time we cannot forget that everything depends on Jesus. This is the royal road to sanctity.

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