Wednesday, 12 February, 2003

We continue with selections from The Justification Reader by Thomas C. Oden.



We call people "gracious" when their personal gifts make their behavior beautiful or desirable.

The Spirit actively seeks out the beloved and offers gifts. This is why grace has rightly come to be associated with attractive and winsome aesthetic qualities. To receive a blow with grace is to do so with wit, good temper, charm, and style. To hit a ball like Sammy Sosa or dance like Cyd Charisse is to do so gracefully, not clumsily, ineptly, awkwardly. To fumble a ball or dance ungracefully is to do so clumsily, ineptly, awkwardly.

Even the cross is made beautiful by grace. When one says" grace before meals," the one who is receiving splendid gifts feels "graced" or blessed and hence "grateful."



Offering a helping hand to someone is a part of that beautiful and desirable behavior. This is at least the case for us. A grace-filled act is one not simply noted for its "polish" or "smoothness." It is know for its complete lack of strings or conditions. It is given...completely. That...is what makes for the beauty of the cross. The ugliness of Roman torture and death is gracefully redeemed for it is an instrument used for the well being of all. We are given the opportunity to honor the presence of others when they are around us. I find that to be a powerful act of grace when one person hands or places a banner of welcome or acknowledgement upon others. It is as though the cycle of being self-centered is broken for a moment in time....and grace prevails among us.



Connection: If we were to go through this day gracefully, how would it change the day? To make it more applicable and concrete, pick a part of the day that may need the greatest transformation...and there begin a journey in gracefulness. Where will it end up?



Grace us with your presence O Lord and inspire us to be open to the wonderful life that is possible within this day. Remind us of the beauty that is available to us within our own live as we are wooed to follow your loving ways. Amen.