Moses talked to God and God did not to destroy the Israelites.  The psalmist asked God for “… a clean heart….”  St. Paul reminds us about his grateful heart for the grace that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave him.

 
Luke in his Gospel tells that God constantly seeks us, always desires to enter into a deeper loving relationship with us.  Luke relates the famous parable of “The Prodigal Son”, really prodigal sons.  Each son in his own way repudiated the father’s love.  The Father – forgives- beyond our wildest imagination!

If you have ever been privileged to be a conduit of God’s grace to someone, you know the deeply satisfying joy that one can experience.

This story may shed some insight into bringing God’s joy to someone, “An instrument of grace.”

“She possessed extraordinary musical skill as she approached her 16^th birthday. All of her teachers saw and heard in her playing great potential.  With each new piece she learned, she became more excited about her music and devoted hours mastering her technique. 

Her parents realized that the viola she played did not match her talents or her conductor's expectations.  The family of four lived frugally & responsibly – for them as most of us know, every dollar counts. 

But Mom searched and searched and soon found an excellent instrument. 

She never told her husband the cost, nor did he ask - she did note that it cost more than the 20-year-old Volvo he was driving.  But when they gave the viola to their daughter at breakfast on the morning of her birthday, the cost did not matter. 

Mom and Dad knew the joy that only comes from sacrifice; their daughter experienced the joy that comes only from being so loved.

[From "Treasure chest" by Kenneth H. Carter, The Christian Century, July 24, 2007.]

That was a moment of Grace, God’s Grace!

The experience of being part of God’s grace, being an instrument of God’s grace is a great blessing.  Many of you are praying for family members or friends who are “lost” and are not practicing their faith, but are drifting aimlessly in the spiritual dimension of their lives.

You may wonder if the shepherd will ever reconcile with the sons.

The Gospel message is don’t lose HOPE – God is seeking and searching!  God will find the lost among us.  God will reconcile the estranged among us.  Our job is to love Jesus, pray to Jesus and living lives to provide a glimpse of God to the world.

Jesus has given us: through His miracles, a new power; through His suffering, a new patience; through His resurrection, a new hope; through His ascension, a new majesty. (Adopted from Lit. of the Hrs. Wk III, Morning Prayer, Ps.96 Ps. prayer)

Many of the parables remind us that we are flawed and sinful; each one of us needs the sacrament of reconciliation on a regular basis.  The parables remind us that: God’s love is personal, unconditional and joy-filled. 

Grace enables us to realize God’s love and compassion in our lives.  Sometimes we are blessed to be the conduits of God’s grace and sometimes we are blessed to receive God’s grace.  The bottom line in the Gospel message is JOY!  (Connections, 09/12/10)

Remember to thank God for the JOY you have received; the JOY God has given you and the grace that God has given you.

May God Be Praised!