Yielding to Grace

THE WORD IN LENT 

Monday, 4th week in Lent - March 28, 2022
Isaiah 65: 17-21; John 4: 43-54

At times we speak of Grace as some'thing' to be received from God: terms like more graces, special graces, immediate graces, etc betray such an understanding. The most Christian understanding of Grace would be the continual proximity of God. The Lord promises us to be with us and the Lord is always faithful to this promise. The challenge is that we realise this presence and feel it concretely. When we do that, everything turns new - the earth, the heaven, the life, the experience, the persons around, the problems that persist...everything is renewed! But the need is that we YIELD!

The Gospel today brings out this message very subtly. The Court Official's petition for a favour was a bit irritating for Jesus - Jesus expresses that but the official finds favour when he yields to the terms of Jesus: 'You Go and your son will live'...the man turns and walks! He wanted grace, the proximity of Jesus, but he willingly yields to experience it in Lord's own terms. If I remain stubborn as to what I want to experience and that I must experience it in my own terms, then I restrict the great wonders that can happen around me.

When I am ready to allow Grace to operate in Lord's terms, it means I have total confidence in the Lord, and I am not using the Lord as a standby. It is a sign that I have surrendered to the way God has planned things for me, not stubborn that what I think has to happen and in the way that I want it to happen. Above all, it very clearly expresses the fact that I am nothing in front of the Lord who is omniscient and omnipotent, apart from being someOne totally in love with me. 

Yes, Yielding requires three major qualities of Faith: Confidence, Surrender and Humility. It is to say wholeheartedly : 'God is in-charge!" The best prayer is what the Lord himself has taught us: Your will be done! That is yielding to Grace.