Day 266: The Gift of Grace (2017-2029)

• It’s Day 266!!

• MCNUGGET DAY!!

• We are called by the Lord God to belong to Him in this completely unique way

• He has given us grace and we are justified by grace through faith working itself out in love

• We are called to respond to that grace with our free will

• We also have merit and Christian holiness

• Let’s pray!!

Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven, we give you praise and glory. Thank you so much for getting us here. Thank you so much for leading us and guiding us to this day, to this moment where we have an opportunity to be reminded of the great call you have placed in our lives. What you have done for us by your life, death, and Resurrection and the life, death and Resurrection of your Son. By pouring out your Holy Spirit. Into our hearts. By giving your spirit, your life, your grace through the sacraments. Helping us live that out in faith. Lord God, in this moment, this day, we ask you to please help us. Help us to not only boldly proclaim the Faith, but to allow the Faith to guide every step of our lives, every thought we have, every moment of our heart. Let that faith, that trust in you be the impetus that guides us. Let our love for you, and actually even more so your love for us, be that power that moves us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen”

• So there we have it!!

• How much of Catholic theology is permeated and defined is only understood in light of grace

• Every paragraph today has the word GRACE in it

• Grace is central to everything because that is what God has done for us

• Grace is God’s gratuitous, unmerited, and free gift

• Look, guys and gals today I am not going to write down every paragraph Fr Mike quotes because you can just look in the Catechism. But I will tell you which ones he quotes….deal?

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• Go back to the Book of Exodus

• When God sets His people free from slavery, He sets them free for new life, for worship, in order to belong to Him

• It’s not enough to turn away from sin

• We also have to turn towards God

• That is what true conversion is

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• By giving us His grace, God is glorified

• Every time a person is baptized, turns away from sin, and allows God’s grace to transform their lives, God is glorified

• God is glorified when we turn away from sin

• God is glorified when grace transforms our hearts

• The goal is also that we can share in that Eternal Life

• This is not about what God wants to do in someone else’s life

• The most excellent of God’s mercy is accomplished in you

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• Our prayer is always a response

• Our choosing good is always a response

• God’s grace does not overwhelm or eradicate human freedom

• God’s grace works with human freedom

• God’s grace perfects human freedom

• You know what sin does

• Sin makes us a slave

• We are now less free to say no to sin and yes to grace

• So now we are less free to do what we are made to do because we have now bound ourselves to sin

• BUT…

• Grace sets us free so be able to say yes to the good and no to the bad

• That is what we are made for

• Our hearts long for God’s plan and long for God Himself

• Our hearts are restless until they rest in Him

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• Sanctifying grace makes us pleasing to God and makes us His sons and daughters

• It is habitual and permanent

• Charisms are oriented to build off this sanctifying grace for building up the Church

• Let’s listen to Fr. Mike’s example…

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• Man’s merit is due to God

• Even the good we do comes from God

• That is another of God’s gifts

• The honest truth is that the only good in me comes from the Lord God

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• Love is the principle source of merit in us before God

• Fr. Mike is praying FOR YOU!!

• Please pray for Fr, Mike and for each other!!

• Sorry for mailing it in today….

• See you tomorrow!!