Grace

God's Gift of Himself

"So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13

Opening Question

Have you ever received a gift so extravagant, so undeserved, that you didn't know how to respond?

That's what we're talking about today.

What Grace Actually Is

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved)..."
— Ephesians 2:4-5

From Death to Life

Dead in Sin

Separated from God

We cannot save ourselves

✝

Christ's Grace

Alive in Christ

United with God

God's adopted children

Key Truths About Grace

Grace is not a thing—it's God's own divine life shared with us
We were dead in sin. Dead people can't save themselves.
This is pure gift. We didn't earn it. We can't earn it.
Grace makes us God's adopted children—not servants, but sons and daughters

The Church Teaches

"Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God."
— CCC 1996

How Grace Works in Us

"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing."
— John 15:5

The Vine and the Branches

Christ the Vine We are the branches

Two Essential Types of Grace

Sanctifying Grace

God's life dwelling permanently in us

A way of life

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Actual Grace

God's help in specific moments

To do good and avoid evil

Sanctifying Grace

✓ Initially received at Baptism

✓ Restored in Confession

✓ Conferred in all the Sacraments

✓ Not a state to be in or out of—it's a way of life

Why This Changes Everything

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness."
— 2 Corinthians 12:9

In your weakness, in your struggle, in your failure—

God's grace is enough

Grace Transforms Us

New intellect, new will, new capacity to love
We become capable of things we could never do on our own
We can cooperate with grace or resist it—God respects our freedom

The Stakes

⚠️ Sanctifying grace can be lost through mortal sin

✝️ It is restored through Reconciliation

📈 We increase in grace by prayer, sacraments, and acts of love

The Question

"Am I good enough for God?"

"Will I receive what God is offering?"

Time for Prayer

Lord Jesus, you have taught us about your grace—your very life poured out for us.

Now we take time to sit at your feet in prayer. Open our hearts to receive what we cannot earn.

Help us to simply be with you, the Vine, so that your life may flow into us, the branches.

Bring to Jesus whatever is on your heart about grace— your need for it, your struggle to receive it, your gratitude for it.

Just be with Him.

In your holy name we pray. Amen.