Accountability to God
What is meant by "Grace?"
The Lord Jesus instructed, “You must be perfect… just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Was He joking? Hardly. Was He throwing down an impossible challenge? Not at all… nothing shall be impossible for God. It’s a wonderful thing when we try to keep God’s commandments, to live as He would have us live… but we try to do it on our own without His help, we can fail and become discouraged, or worse, lose charity and become prideful.
“Grace” is God’s help… His “energies,” so to speak, that help us live “above our nature”… for that is truly what God calls us to do… live “supernatural” (Latin super=above, nature) lives in union with Him. God shares His own life with us – that’s what grace is… His power and energy to transform and make things new. The saints knew all this, and that’s how they could live saintly lives… and that’s what we’re called to do, too.
We can’t “earn” God’s grace… but we can dispose ourselves to His grace principally by prayer – the simplest way that God shares His power with us… by our participation in the life of His Church – that’s why the Church is instituted – the “tabernacle” or “tent,” to use the image of the scriptures where we encounter God and then take Him out to the world… by works of service to those who also seek the Living God.
The sacraments are an effective means by which we may participate in God’s grace… and keep ourselves “accountable” in striving to keep God’s commands.
The Seven Sacraments – Avenues of God’s Grace
Our Catechism devotes an entire [and lengthy!] section to the Seven Sacraments that help us to grow in God’s grace.
What is a “sacrament”? A visible, experiential sign… given to us by Christ… allowing us to participate in God’s grace. We properly dispose ourselves to celebrate a sacrament by desiring God’s help and love.
Baptism. Water washes away sin and brings about new life. God reaches down from heaven, grabs ahold of us, raises us up to Him, makes us His sons and daughters and heirs to all He has.
Confirmation. The oil of Chrism seals and strengthens what was begun at baptism with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Eucharist. Living a “supernatural” life would require “supernatural” food and sustenance… Christ’s own Flesh and Blood, the fruit of His Sacrifice on the Cross, become a source of strength and unites us with one another in the life of His Church.
Penance and Reconciliation. Our participation in what is sinful disrupts the bond God made with us in baptism, and the ripple effect disrupts the communion of the life of the Church. The sacrament of confession restores us to the life of grace and sets us on the path of healing.
Marriage. The union of man and woman symbolizes the love Christ has for His Bride, the Church. The life of the Holy Trinity is made visible: the Father loves the Son and gives all creation over to Him, the Son loves completely the Father and does His Will in all things, and the love between them is so real, it is a third Person in the Holy Spirit. A man and woman so totally in love for each other mirror this in their union with one another and in bringing children into the world.
Holy Orders. The sacrament by which men are set aside and “given orders” by Christ for the sanctification of the Christian people. Bishops, priests and deacons are “ordained” to teach the faith, sanctify the Christian people in the Liturgy and the sacraments, and shepherd the Church.
Anointing of the Sick. God provides for every moment of our sojourn through time… particularly the most important and trying ones… when we experience illness or danger of death. The prayer of the Church, pardon of sins, Oil to strengthen us, Holy Communion as food for the final stretch… the sacrament helps us transition from time to eternity.