The Divine Work Within Us

Divine Appeal Reflection - 254

Today, consider in Divine Appeal 254: "What I have accomplished in you is a very great grace!"

Grace is the sublime gift by which God, in His infinite mercy, breathes life into the soul, raising it beyond its natural limits to share in the very life of the Most Holy Trinity (cf. CCC 1997-1998). This divine indwelling is not merely bestowed like a token but requires our willing reception and surrender, for grace demands the free cooperation of the human will (cf. Phil 2:12-13). The saints have long testified that without our openness, this heavenly gift remains dormant or rejected, like a seed falling on barren ground (cf. Mt 13:3-8). Yet when welcomed and embraced to the fullest, grace becomes the living force that shapes our intellect, molds our will, and transforms our entire being into the image and likeness of God (cf. 2 Cor 3:18). Each person is called to receive and maximize this divine gift, for to waste or neglect grace is to resist the very breath of sanctification.

In every vocation—priesthood, religious life, marriage, and youth—this grace is the indispensable power that perfects our nature and sanctifies our efforts. The priest receives grace to act in persona Christi, offering sacrifice and forgiveness with divine authority (cf. Heb 7:25-27). Religious persons yield to grace in their vow of obedience and self-denial, embracing a hidden participation in Christ’s Passion (cf. Lk 14:26). In the married state, grace elevates conjugal love to a sacramental sign of Christ’s unending fidelity to the Church, sanctifying daily life and fruitfulness (cf. Eph 5:21-33). Young souls, often beset by worldly distractions, must open themselves to grace’s guidance, that their footsteps be firmly set on paths of holiness and truth (cf. Mt 5:8). In each state and condition of life, the call remains the same: to embrace the grace given with the fullness of heart and spirit, allowing it to bloom and bear eternal fruit.

However, grace is not a force imposed upon the soul; it is an invitation extended by God, which must be met with willing hearts and persistent assent. Our role is not passive; rather, it is a profound act of co-creation with God, who seeks not slaves but beloved children cooperating freely in their own sanctification (cf. CCC 2010-2011). Prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments, penance, and works of charity are the means by which we dispose ourselves to this divine work, allowing grace to permeate the depths of our soul. The saints teach that resisting grace, whether through neglect or obstinance, darkens the soul’s horizon and hinders the transformative power of divine love (cf. St. Augustine, Confessions). To accept grace partially is to receive less than the fullness of divine life; thus, it is the sacred duty of each person to embrace grace maximally, to live fully in God’s sanctifying embrace.

Ultimately, this patient, humble yielding to grace is the path of holiness itself—the soul’s journey from purification to illumination and finally to union with God (cf. St. John of the Cross, Dark Night of the Soul). This interior metamorphosis prepares us for the eternal glory that awaits, making our lives a living testimony to the power of God’s mercy and justice intertwined (cf. Phil 1:6). To embrace grace fully is to choose life over death, light over darkness, and to participate actively in the divine plan of salvation, confident that God’s work begun in us will be brought to completion in glory. Let us therefore open wide our hearts, allowing no grace to be wasted, that we may become all God wills us to be.

Prayer

O Our Adorable Jesus, fount of all grace, transform our hearts by Your mighty hand. Sanctify our callings, strengthen our will, and enkindle in us Your divine love, that we may faithfully share in Your work within us and reflect Your glory for all eternity. Amen.

Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, intercede for us.