grace - 25th week Wednesday 2017

Our gospel today is not just a reminder to the apostles to bring only what is essential for their work and ministry but it is also a reminder that all human effort towards the good that we desire, will always fall short.  On our own we cannot do what God wants and we cannot achieve them relying merely in our own human capacity and ability.  We need the grace of God. Jesus is telling them, don’t rely only in the provisions you bring with you, but rely especially in God’s help, in God’s grace.

In effect Jesus is telling each one of us too in our particular state:

In your marriage do not only depend solely on your human capacity to love each other in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, till death do you part.  Human effort alone cannot achieve that.  You need God’s grace to remain persistently in love and so ask God’s help.

In your work do not rely solely on your ability and the knowledge acquired in school.  Human effort alone cannot make us achieve or persevere in the good.  We need God’s help and grace.

In your apostolate in the parish as catechists, cleaners, ministers or whatever task assigned to you – human effort alone is not enough to do the work that you do.  You need God’s assistance and grace and thus you need to ask his help.

The prayers of the faithful in the mass is a reminder of our feeble nature, a reminder that we cannot achieve the good that we desire without the assistance, the guidance, the grace of God.  We are the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve.  Our nature is fallen.  On our own we cannot become perfect, we cannot persevere in the good, we cannot become loving as we should.  On our own we cannot reach our goal which is heaven.  In everything we do we need God’s grace.  And thus, we need to start our day with supplications to God and end the day with thanksgiving.