Faith, Humility, Forgiveness & Grace

So... “It’s been awhile”.  The Mass readings for today along with an insightful morning conversation prompted this blog. I usually write when my mind is unable to clear something. Sometimes I feel that a particular life event would provide benefit to others either through humor or lesson. Faith is often a cornerstone to me beginning a blog entry; how am I living out my faith?  A series of events this week prompted me to evaluate faith, humility, forgiveness, grace and ultimately love. How do we love and place what He asks of us into action?

Christianity teaches faith but what is faith? Is it not the belief in that which you cannot see?

Christianity teaches humility but what is humility? Is it not the ability to place ourselves in a position of the lowly to render ourselves open to understanding, kindness and love?

Christianity teaches forgiveness but what is forgiveness? Is it not being able to humble ourselves to faith in our understanding or lack thereof, love others as Christ loved from a place of humility?

Christianity teaches grace but what is grace? Is it not ones ability to lean upon faith, be humble and offer forgiveness and not lean upon our own understanding but what Christ asks of us?  Is it not but the cornerstone to the greatest teaching which is love.

In life we are often witness to or victims of less than loving situations. As Christians, we are taught to have faith that things will be right ? To place our trust in God. This is often something we have a difficult time applying  to ourselves let alone to others outside of our own" personal" human bubble. We build walls, make excuses and try to protect from harm. God asks us to be open, understanding and love unconditionally. We are lead to be humble and even if we do not understand a transgression to forgive (judgement is not ours)? We are asked to offer grace to those who we may feel are the least deserving of our love?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” ~1 John 1:9

We are taught as Christians and myself as a Catholic to confess then to move forward with confidence, fully forgiven and free from guilt.

Why do we witness those who have poured their hearts out: being offered hostile judgement? He himself, the truth of in life can offer grace and love? Why is this so hard for us? We are human.  Our human condition opens our hearts to hurt. Our human condition often places blinders on our eyes to see with faithful eyes that things will be ok. Our human hearts are subject to hurt. Our humanness doesn’t always allow us to be humble. Our human condition doesn’t always end up offering grace and love to those who need it most.

Christianity teaches us that the greatest of things is love. Unwavering, humble, often undeserved, given with a heart of forgiveness when we don’t always understand.

Christianity equals faith, humility, forgiveness and grace which equal love. Love the greatest gift we can offer to another; even greater is this gift when undeserved.

We are not here to place judgement but to love.

Micheline Edwards © 2019