The Moment of Grace


Never go ahead of grace

through imprudent eagerness

but await its moment in peace,

and when it comes to you,

follow it with great gentleness and courage.

Once you have obeyed,

take care lest complacency

rob you of the fruit of your obedience.

Maxim of Love 6:9
Jean-Pierre Medaille, SJ 

Sharing our stories...

 

Advent is for me a favorite and extended time of retreat, as I reflect on the readings and the meaning of the season. The promise is always a birth at the end of the season. The hope of a new incarnation was again palpable. I wondered: “What would be the new embodiment of the Spirit this time?”

 

It was time for stillness, the discipline that draws the heart to peace.

 

My retreat was a time of solitude, yet also, more than usual, a time of isolation because of months of struggles. Thus the temptation was the greater to jump quickly at any sign of hope, to want speedily to imagine my own solution and thus to “go ahead of grace.”

 
I had to wait through the darkness of four weeks for the beginning of intimations of the light of Christmas; for the expanding light of Epiphany and for the coming of a joyful clarity with the liturgy of the Baptism of the Lord that revealed a deeper and truer identity, one that weeks of focused prayer had prepared. I had “fallen” into a wonderful new wholeness!
 
It was an invitation to a Eucharistic ministry! The moment of grace had come. I was at peace. I would follow with courage! Thank you for the chance to give expression to my voice with this posting.   

Arlette Hermans
Renfrew, ON, Canada
  

Comments  

#3 Betty Mellon 2014-03-03 16:59
Dear Arlette,
I have deep gratitude with your comment -- touching me deeply. With all that you live each moment instills within me an abiding peace and deep courage that you embrace. Thank you.
#2 gracem 2014-01-28 20:25
#2 GMcGuire
Thank you for this inspiration,Arl ette. Your advent experience speaks about the grace that comes with waiting, preparing, anticipating, 'being with what is' and then receiving. All is gift! All is blessing!
#1 mdickinson 2014-01-20 02:27
What wonderful words, Arlette ... Thank you! In reading your 'story', I'm reminded of the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (and, appropriately, I can share them on the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day):
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

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