March 31, 2022

GRACE AND ACCEPTANCE

 
Religious words, religious language, often is a foreign language.
 
We go to church, and we hear words like Pentecost, Paraclete, Paschal, Eschatology, Charism, Grace ….
 
Yes, grace.
 
It’s one of those words that might slip by as a word to make fun of when we make fun or are critical of religious language.
 
What does “grace” mean?
 
It’s abstract – not specific or particular – like the words, “bicycle” or “orange”. Those words are heard, and we picture a bicycle or an orange.
 
When we say, “Haill Mary, full of grace”, what do we picture when we say “grace”?
 
How about “grace” in the words, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound”?
 
Grace?
 
Saying “Hail Mary, full of grace” or “Ave Maria, gratia plena”, sometimes the word “grace” or “gratia” grabs me.  So too when I hear the word “grace” in the song “Amazing grace”, sometimes I’m amazed at God’s love for me.
 
Grace? What does “grace” mean?
 
For me, somewhere along the line, the word “acceptance” began to appear or tag along with the word “grace”. I know “acceptance” brings alone a lot more or less, depending on the moment.  Yet “acceptance” is enough for me.
 
God accepted Mary.  God accepts me. Both of us are full of grace as a result.  Both of us then give birth to Jesus in our world.
 
That’s amazing. Amazing grace.
 
I tell a secret about someone behind their back. For example, I tell another about the time this person got a dumb parking ticket.  Nobody in our crowd knew about it – but now they do. They begin kidding this person about the time they got a ticket.
 
We say, “Uh oh!”
 
We go to that person and ask their forgiveness for what we did to them.  We listen to their anger towards us.  Then they forgive us. We feel more acceptable to them – as well as to ourselves.
 
The Prodigal Son comes home.
 
He is accepted unconditionally – no speeches – just total acceptance from his father.  However, his brother won’t forgive him – or for that matter – won’t forgive his father.
 
This older brother falls from grace – from being graceful.
 
When we are accepted, we walk taller and straighter. We are more graceful. We sing better. We are more relaxed. We have more peace.
 
Amazing grace …. how sweet the sound….

 

 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2022