Posted by “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE.” (Epistle of Sunday).
I.
Man knows not the value of Divine grace, and hence he exchanges it for a mere nothing. It is a treasure of infinite value. An infinite treasure to men, which they that use, become the friends of God. (Wis. vii. 14). The Gentiles said it was impossible for a creature to become the friend of God. But, no; Divine grace induces God to call the soul that possesses it, His friend: You are my friends (Jo. xv. 14) — said our Blessed Saviour to His disciples.
When, therefore, O God, my soul was in the state of grace, it was Thy friend; but by sin it became the slave of the devil, and Thine enemy. I give Thee thanks for affording me time to recover Thy grace. I am sorry, O Lord, with my whole heart, for having lost it; in Thy pity, restore it to me, and suffer me not to lose it any more.
How fortunate should that man esteem himself who becomes the friend of his king. It would be presumption for a vassal to expect that his prince should make him his friend; but it is not presumption for the soul to aspire to be the friend of God. “If I would become a friend of Caesar,” said a certain courtier, as St. Augustine relates, “I should have great difficulty in becoming such; but if I would become the friend of God, I am already His friend.” An act of Contrition and of Love makes us the friends of God. St. Peter of Alcantara said: “No tongue can express the greatness of the love of Jesus for a soul in the state of grace.”
O my God, am I in Thy grace or not? I certainly know that at one time I had lost it, and who knows whether I have regained it? O Lord, I love Thee, and am sorry for having offended Thee; make haste to pardon me.
II.
Oh, how great, on the contrary, is the misery of a soul that is fallen from the state of grace! It is separated from the Sovereign Good. It belongs no more to God, and God belongs no more to it. It is no longer loved by God, but hated and abhorred by Him. Before, He blessed it as His Child; but now, He curses it as His enemy.
Such is the unhappy state in which I was, O God, when I had forfeited Thy grace. I hope I have arisen from my unhappy condition, but if I have not, hasten, O Jesus, to rescue me from it. Thou hast promised to love those who love Thee: I love them that love me. (Ps. viii. 17). I love Thee, my Sovereign Good; do Thou love me; and may I never again be deprived of Thy love. Holy Mary, succour me, thy humble client; I commend myself to thy patronage.