Friday comes as a welcome moment as I prepare for the weekend. I accept the day as a moment to reflect on the need for growth in the grace that God gives us. Surely all who desire God’s grace and salvation have it readily available for the asking. Nevertheless, all of us may grow in grace and growing in grace is certainly a beautiful thing. It is something to be greatly coveted in the good sense of the word.
Asking God to allow us to grow in grace doesn't mean that we deny the existence of the grace we have already. Nor does it somehow mean that we can be “more saved” than someone else or "more saved" than we are already. However, it does mean that we see the need to better reflect the image of Jesus in our daily lives. It means that we want to be more like Christ. We want to know him better and show him better in our world. Growing in grace is becoming more Christ-like.
I take Friday as an exciting anticipation of the weekend. Not so that I will have time away from my job (After all, growing in grace means that I meet Christ daily at my job. My job too is God's gift to me). Rather, I anticipate the weekend because it offers me yet another opportunity to be reconciled and to worship God and receive the Blessed Sacrament—the real presence of Jesus—again. I look forward to the weekend because everything that happens recharges me and gets me ready to go into the world next week and give a special gift to all whom I encounter.
This Friday I offer special thanks for the answered prayers in my life—really for as far back as I can remember, but also recently. I thank God for the special people in my life and for the healing and hope that they have brought and taught me to receive. I thank God for this special day to prepare to meet Jesus yet again. More than anything, I am thankful for the opportunity to grow and become whatever God wills. May we all be blessed with the freshness of God’s love and Holy Spirit as we enter the weekend and the new week ahead.
Sweet reasons to look forward to the weekend. I really appreciate seeing them.
Posted by: Carol | January 22, 2010 at 06:27 PM
Inspiring words lighting ourway! Unfortunately, had to work today seems the judicial system requires little rest for the weary! Reflecting on the goodness of God saving so many in Haiti and giving us our Priests and Deacons to share beautiful words of wisdom. Michael Jackson's song was playing on my way home "Man in the mirror" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgtWIx2zLtk
"Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses."
-Ecclesiastes 3:1
Learning to let go of the hectic week as they are passing way to quickly but change takes time! Have a good weekend!
Posted by: Caroline Chapman | January 23, 2010 at 09:41 PM