Nature easily complains of want and of trouble: but grace bears poverty with constancy. This grace is a supernatural light, and a certain special gift of God, and the proper mark of the elect, and the pledge of eternal salvation, which elevates a man from the things of earth to the love of heavenly things; and of carnal, makes him spiritual.
Wherefore, by how much the more nature is kept down and subdued, with so much the greater abundance grace is infused; and the inward man, by new visitations, is daily more reformed according to the image of God.
- Bk. III, ch. liv.
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If you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thanks are to you? for sinners also lend to sinners, for to receive as much. Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing thereby: and your reward shall be great (Luke vi, 34, 35). Even on earth the reward is very great. It is only the first step that costs, for it seems a hard saying: lend, hoping for nothing thereby; it would be easier to give outright.
This is what may sometimes be said to you: "I need your help for a few hours, I have permission to ask you, and will repay the time you give me." You know very well that this will never be done, and would prefer to give your services, making it quite plain that you do not count on the proffered help. It is more generous to give than to lend, and more pleasing to our pride, but how different are the promptings of Nature from the divine teaching! It would be impossible to understand it, let alone practise it, without the help of grace.
- H.
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For a List of Abbreviations, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
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