Where are the saints that received God's grace through faith?

Where are the saints that received God’s grace through faith?

God’s plan to share his life and love with us, as explained in the Mystery of the Church, by John Powell, S.J.

“You were dead in your transgressions and sins in which you once lived following the age of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient.  All of us lived once among them in the desires of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest.  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved) raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast.  For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.”  (Eph. 2” 1 - 10).  This is the very plan that God has prepared for all of us who believe, a plan for our efforts to take the yoke of service and plant the seeds of an evangelizing church.  

As each one partakes of the gifts bestowed upon us it becomes a mandate to use the very grace he generously hands us to assist in God’s plan to share his love and life with us.  Take a look around at the crowds of persons attending Mass and count if possible those whom have picked up on this mandate.  This is not to embarrass or pressure any one, but the rhetoric of this statement is to look and see the needs that are performed by too few people.  

We were not confirmed this past Easter, only a few.  However, each of us should remember the meaning of the words taught us before the sacrament, somewhat in this fashion; have they faithfully listened to the apostles’ instruction proclaimed by the church?  Have they reflected sufficiently on the tradition of the church? Have they advanced in a life of love and service of others?  These are some of the scrutinizing questions before the anointing.  Each fits the mandate of service from each one accepting the gift of the Holy Spirit!

Just like the renewal of our baptismal promises a reminder of the promises adhered to before we were confirmed are as relevant and reflecting on them is a reminder of the narrative from Paul at Ephesus.

Where are the saints, each of us, that received this grace through faith and are needed for the harvest yet to come?

Ralph B. Hathaway, present day saints, those of us who are prepared to serve.