Back to Tebow, just for a moment. Tebowing on the sidelines and preaching in front of the cameras, some seem to think every ball to leave his hand is divinely guided - nothing short of a miracle.
But is the football really some divine remote-control hovercraft, Tebow
really a kind of divine puppet?
It sounds ridiculous, but let’s be honest. The question has gone
through our head. But is religion some magic coke machine? We throw in a coin
(or sometimes even without the coin), and God makes it happen. Does grace just
kind of hijack our life, our world?
On the other hand, I've been accused of Pelagianism
Okay, it’s a big word, but it’s simple. It’s the opposite of the
Tebow example. We don’t need God at all - we can be holy and happy without his grace
if we just try hard enough.
Fortunately 1500 years ago at the Council of Carthage (one like
Vatican II, just a long time before), it was solemnly condemned. Without God's
grace it is not merely difficult, but absolutely impossible to perform
good works. We can’t do anything good. We can’t be happy. We can’t be holy.
So why did I write those articles? 4
Simple Steps for Silence, 4
Things for a Good Pilgrimage to Heaven, 10
Step Holiday Workout: Intense and Full-soul. If it depends on God and not
our efforts, we should just sit back and wait for God to make it happen. In
fact, should I be waiting for some excommunication notice from the Vatican?
Joking aside, we can do something, even though there’s no magic
formula. With silence and prayer, we can prepare for God’s grace. We can work
with him by discerning and answering his call in our lives. We can exercise
virtue.
Lent provides the perfect opportunity as a time of repentance and conversion –
turning back to God and working more closely with him. We have strayed from him
in little ways, and he calls us back.
Three simple tips to bettering understanding God’s grace this Lent
1. Presence.
More than a thing, grace is personal - God’s presence. You don’t
receive some X-Men superpower. God is present with you and in you.
So first, we have to ask him to stay with us! And on your part,
you need to remove obstacles and get yourself in shape to work together.
2. Remove
vice.
This is the first step. If you are proud, lazy, or simply attached
to yourself, there’s no room for God. What is your biggest difficulty in prayer,
loving others, or simply in doing what you know is right? That very well might
be what God is asking you to give up.
But remember, it’s something positive to make God more present in
your life.
3. Exercise virtue.
Most importantly we are called to be better men, men of virtue. Instead
of giving up chocolate or television for Lent (or in addition to these), do
something more– believe more, hope more,
love more.
For the time of Lent remaining, I would like to offer you a weekly virtue
reflection to make God more present and better cooperate with him.
Please
comment and tell me what you think. What virtues interest you?
Developing human virtue comes first,does it not?
ReplyDeleteAt the least, becoming the best person in the midst of the circumstances in which God has placed us helps us to develop an attitude of thankfulness and cooperation with God, in union with Christ. This means developing a positive attitude will allow us to have a disposition toward God's will. So, the human virtue of looking for the good in all circumstances disposes our hearts to cooperate with God's grace. Then, the reception of the sacraments elevates the human to the supernatural virtues of faith, hope, and charity, where sacramental grace is received. Due to the disposition of our hearts on the human level of gratefulness, we can be totally thankful and trusting that God has blessed us through the sacraments. This has nothing really to do with anything we have done to merit grace, but has everything to do with the gift God has given.
Br.Mark,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this very much. Thank you for posting
Blessings Always.