“By chance” (I mean “in a little coincidence managed by the Holy Spirit”) I happened to read paragraph 901 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church yesterday and found proof that what was being taught in the earliest days of the Church by the preacher of Hebrews remains the teaching given to us today by Pope and bishops through the Council of Vatican II. Read this excerpt, below, and then re-read Wednesday’s post.
901 “Hence the laity, dedicated as they are to Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit, are marvelously called and prepared so that even richer fruits of the Spirit maybe produced in them. For all their works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit – indeed even the hardships of life if patiently born – all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In the celebration of the Eucharist these may most fittingly be offered to the Father along with the body of the Lord. and so, worshipping everywhere by their holy actions, the laity consecrate the world itself to God, everywhere offering worship by the holiness of their lives.”
What we do becomes our offering, our sacrifice to God. He is with us, and in us, and empowering us, as we do them–they are all acts of holiness that He will take up and transform completely into the Light and Life we are called to enjoy with Him. We offer them, formally, in the Mass, when the priest lifts up our offered bread and wine, to be transformed into the living presence of Christ.
Rejoice!
What about past hardships patiently born, if not, at that time, in a state of grace?
Patiently bearing hardships IS an act of grace. Grace works in us, as God chooses, even when we are not in the normative state of grace expected of Christians. Grace is appealing to us to get things taken care of. God never gives up.
Thanks, I needed to hear that.