June 25, 2023
“But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one-man Jesus Christ overflow for the many… ‘Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.’”
How well, or how rarely, do we recognize and acknowledge gifts? Our next breath we just take. Someone on a ventilator depends totally on it. The gift of work can be laboring or fulfilling. An unemployed or disabled person wishes to change the situation. We can multiply examples.
St. Paul reminds us of the greatest gift which we often just presume or take for granted. Our predecessors rejected the Lord, wandered away from Him. But God in His goodness sent the Savior to restore us to His friendship, wipe out the fault, and allow us to live in communion with Him. This is the gift of grace, ‘amazing grace.’
As the Father saw our need He took action. Today may we acknowledge His generosity, treasure that gift, remembering that grace is an unmerited gift offered to us, and accepted with deep gratitude. ‘How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.’
by Rev. William J. Reilly