12 May 2018
Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
In the meditation of the Contemplation to Attain Love, St. Ignatius of Loyola stresses the primacy of grace as pure gift. No human person can bring about grace. No human contributes to grace or in any way is prepared for grace. The first point of the meditation says, “I will call back into my memory the gifts I have received – my creation, my redemption and other gifts particular to myself…”(Sp Ex 234). The fourth point of the meditation says, “I will consider how all good things and gifts descend from above(emphasis added); for example, my limited power from the Supreme and Infinite Power above; and so of justice, goodness, piety, mercy, and so forth – just as the rays come down from the sun, or the rains from their source.” (Sp. Ex 237).
In the scripture reading today, Luke writes that after Paul arrives in Achaia, “he gave great assistance to those who had come to believe through grace.” St. Paul is known as the Apostle of grace because he speaks extensively about grace. He insists that salvation be given to us only by grace. It is impossible for us to obtain a perfect righteousness by our own good works. We cannot attain salvation by relying on our own strength or purely on our human nature. This is why God gives us salvation by grace—as a gift.
In prayer today, recall all the graces that Jesus has given to you. Give thanks to Jesus for all the graces that are being poured into your life.