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The inner word

27 Jul 2014 - Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

As Solomon knew, developing an understanding heart takes grace. What makes sense to your mind may give your heart a jolt, like the question: How do you give everything to God? What is left for you? The answer: God loves you, so in turn loving God’s commands makes you whole. Give everything of yourself. God graces you more than you know, more than your life’s experience. You are connected.

Love Compassion Grace

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The inner word

13 Oct 2013 - Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

When Elisha refused Naaman’s gift with the words, “As the Lord lives whom I serve, I will not take it,” he was not only being polite. He was also showing humility by not taking credit for something God did, not him. One sure path to deepening your faith is to see everything as gift—good as well as bad. To trace all that happens back to God. To be accepting of everything as grace. Take yourself out of the spotlight and focus instead on God, the source of all that is.

Humility Grace

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Sign & sacrament

30 Jun 2013 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

With today’s economy many of us have become well acquainted with sacrifices. We’ve made small ones like canceling cable TV, and some of us have made significant ones like giving up houses or schooling just so we can make ends meet. While not easy, there is grace to be had by not only making but truly owning the decision to let go of something. It may be the grace of simplifying life, of focusing on what matters. Such grace doesn’t mean God wants us to suffer hard times; rather it means that God knows it’s tough and is right there beside us, walking with us and encouraging us in even the roughest of times. What grace do you experience in sacrifice? For more “Sign & sacrament” material, search the Prepare the Word database by today’s scripture reading, a particular theme, or a special occasion.

Suffering sacrifice Grace

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Sign & sacrament

22 Apr 2012 - Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle B

Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ resurrection appearances include Jesus in the role of “Bible teacher.” The disciples on the road to Emmaus and those in the upper room experienced Jesus in bodily form and also in his role as rabbi. He helped them “connect the dots” of their Jewish tradition so they could see that the resurrection was the fulfillment of all their ancestors had hoped for. Easter helps us locate ourselves in the vast sweep of history, the constant working out of God’s irrepressible good will. God’s grace is not only for figures from biblical times but also for us. You are not included as an afterthought but the intended beneficiary of God’s grace since the beginning of time.

Resurrection Road to Emmaus upper room Grace

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Exploring the word

19 Jun 2011 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Cycle A

SAINT PAUL OFFERS a wonderful prism through which to consider the Trinity: the grace of Jesus, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. To begin at the natural top of this triangle, many scripture texts support the revelation of divine love. God is memorably defined by this central attribute in 1 John 4:16. When God originally introduces divinity to humanity in the story of Moses, God claims only “I AM”: pure existence. But John, mystically viewing eternity through the lens of Christology, goes further. I AM LOVE, he declares in God’s name. It’s easy to see how he gets from one to the other. If Jesus and his Father are one, and God so loves the world as to surrender the Divine Son, then the pure existence of God is surely perfect love. Who or what else could make such a sacrifice? Although God doesn’t claim to be “love” in today’s story from the Book of Exodus, the Lord does announce the Divine Nature as mercy, grace, kindness, and fidelity—not inconsistent qualities but an aggregate of love’s facets. In fact, Moses, knowing full well that he travels with a wicked band of stiff-necked people, only dares to invite God to join their company because he understands that a Lord who pardons sin is a God of love. We move next to the traditional third point of the triangle: the fellowship of the Spirit. If “God’s in his heaven” and Jesus is the Word made flesh who came to earth, where does that leave the Spirit? A roving force of possibility, we might say. Jesus speaks of the Advocate as one that is sent (John 14:26) and says also that the Spirit comes and goes and blows where it wills (John 3:8). It makes sense not merely to speak of the movement of the Spirit but to perceive the Spirit as divine power in motion. The Spirit’s origin is in God but is sent by the Father in the name of the Son, according to Jesus. To share in the Spirit’s “fellowship” is to participate in this moveable feast of holy Presence. Finally we come to the grace of Jesus. Paul begins his Trinity here, because it’s only through the incarnation of the Son that we know about his loving Father and companioning Spirit. Grace, however, is one of those religious words we all use and rarely define. We know we shouldn’t leave home without it but we’re not always sure what it is. In Hebrew it means “favor,” as to be in one’s (especially God’s) "good graces." In the New Testament, the epitome of grace is expressed in John 3:16. The God who rescues us by whatever means necessary emphatically reveals divine favor in Christ Jesus. May such grace, love, and fellowship be with us always! Related scripture links There is cause for rejoicing here: 1 Pet. 1:6-7 (KJV) Made in God's image: Gen. 1:26-27 United as one body: 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 4:1-6, 15-16; Phil. 2:4 Not unlike God in many ways: Ps. 8 The work of sanctification: Heb. 10:11-18 Catechism links The nature of God: CCC 198-227; 2574-2577 Jesus as face of God: CCC 219; 441-451; 456-478; 679 Trinity: CCC 232-260; 733-736; 1109

Authors Alice Camille

trinity Grace jesus father spirit

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The inner word

19 Jun 2011 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Cycle A

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . ." Where have you found the greatest graces? For what gifts are you particularly grateful? What does redemption and salvation mean to you? "And the love of God . . . ." How have you experienced God as Father, parent, creator? "And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." How do you describe the ongoing presence of God? Companion, advocate, comforter?

god's grace Holy Spirit

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Who's listening?

27 Mar 2011 - Third Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

How many of the people in your community remember their baptism? Other than those who entered the church as adults, probably very few have any real memory of the day the waters of baptism were poured on them. Everyone will, however, have awareness of times they thirsted spiritually. Like the woman at the well, they may need a fresh encounter with Jesus to awaken them to the availability of living water--God's grace flowing freely--if they will only let their buckets down into the deep.

baptism jesus god's grace

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Homily stories

20 Mar 2011 - Second Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

Apostles Peter, James, and John were blessed with what we've come to know as a "peak experience," when everything finally makes sense and you can see clearer than you've ever seen before. Life offers similar moments to all of us. These are moments when, as Saint Paul says, grace is made manifest. Here are a few such possible "transfiguration" moments. What would you add to the list? Falling wildly in love and knowing that this person makes you more alive than you've ever been before! Being on a family vacation when you blend so fully into the "now" that you feel deeply connected and wonder what was passing for life all these months gone by. Being a new parent and holding your child for the first time, amazed that in an instant you can love another human being so fiercely and completely. Having it all come together in the middle of a project when you enter into a zone where you feel God is flowing through you into the work you're doing. Accompanying someone through a time of great sorrow, only to experience together the tender mercy of our God.

Grace peak experience

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