The word grace is frequently spoken within the Emmaus Community.  There is a prevenient, a justifying, and a sanctifying grace; and there are obstacles to and means of grace.  Let’s think about prevenient grace for a moment.  Prevenient grace is the action of God upon us, prior to awareness.  It is the uninterrupted action of God’s love toward God’s own creatures.  It seems normal when we are told in Genesis 1.26 that “God created humankind in his likeness, his image.”  We might think of it as God pursuing us in order to restore us to full humanity.

Pause for a few minutes to review your life in recent weeks.  Can you recall moments when you were aware of God’s presence? 

The effect of prevenient grace is usually recognized after the fact.  My recognition most often is when others have shown grace toward me.  Recently, I was in hospital.  The physician and nursing personnel were not only competent in their skills, but also were cheerful and encouraging.  More than appreciation, I was aware that concern and encouragement by others enabled me to act in the same way.

Such is prevenient grace.  Grace really is amazing, isn’t it?  God awakens us to become what we are created to be.

Again, review your recent life to recall these moments of grace.  Breathe in the Holy Spirit, and draw close to Christ.

De colores, Larry Bailey
Community Spiritual Director - 2010