The State of Grace.

Homily for July 27, 2017

If you have been to any Catholic Church on a typical Sunday, you probably must have heard this announcement during the mass: Holy Communion is for baptised and practicing Catholics; only those who are in a State of Grace can come forward. If you do not belong to this category, please remain at your seat and pray for spiritual communion.

When we Catholics talk about being in a state of grace, what do we mean?

The origin of the concept of State of Grace comes from today’s first reading. The Israelites had successfully left the land of slavery. They had seen the mighty hand of God at work in making a way through the waters. Yet, they had the effrontery to grumble against God as if God could not provide for them.

So, at this point, God wants to reveal himself to them. God wants to let them know that he is not just a figment of imagination. But first, God instructs Moses that the people must prepare themselves. How?

And the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, and be ready by the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.” Exodus 19:10-11.

By asking them to wash their garments, God was basically asking them to put themselves in a State of Grace. To see God, we must wash, we must purify our hearts, we must confess our sins to a priest and be sincerely sorry for them, indeed, we must wash not only our outer garments but the interior garments of our hearts.

No wonder some people find it very difficult to pray, no wonder some are always distracted during mass. The thing is, their hearts are over occupied with thousands upon thousands of junks (financial worries, children issues, political matters, etc.) that there is no longer any room for God at all. It is such persons that Jesus was referring to in our Gospel passage when he said:

“You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.' Matthew 13:14-16 

In other words, being in a State of Grace can be likened to washing and removal. It is when we wash that we can see clearly. If the Israelites would prepare themselves for God, then I too must prepare myself to take Holy Communion

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, fill me without your anointing that I may never depart from the state of Grace. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 16^th week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20 and Matthew 13:10-17).