Visitations of Grace

Introduction:

• Grace is a divine gift, given freely to us in various ways 
• In spiritual life, God's grace plays a big role 
  • God's grace leads to repentance
    • Give examples; after St Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart" Acts 2:37
  • God's grace stops us from falling in sin 
    • Give examples
  • God's grace encourages us to attain virtues 
    • Give examples

Visitations of GraceGrace:

• Sometimes we find ourselves moved towards doing what is good - especially in the spiritual field 
• This is the work of God's grace
• The fathers refer to that as a "visitation of grace"
  • We are "visited" by God's grace which encourages us to do good at the moment 
    • Examples

What are they 

When do they happen 

• We could be "visited" by God's grace at any time
• God's grace works in everyone 

What should be our response towards them 

• It is important to note that God's grace works in us to produce good works but it does NOT force us to do good works 
  • Grace is an internal movement towards what is good and Godly, but it does not force or pushes you to do anything, the decision has to come from you 
• God's grace works is us all the time. However, the question is do we work with it or not?

What prevents God's grace from us 

• “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts" Hebrews 3:15
  • "Hear His voice" is the work of grace, "harden your hearts" is our response towards it

How to benefit from the visitations of grace