His Grace is Enough

I went to a Matt Maher concert last night and he sang a song that I've heard so many times before, but I had never really thought about its meaning. It's called Your Grace is Enough.

This song he wrote was inspired by a verse in 2 Corinthians chapter 12. In this chapter, Paul is talking about how there is something in his life that he really struggles with, "a thorn in the flesh", "an angel from Satan sent to beat me" (2 Cor 12:7). Three times Paul begs God to help him overcome this trial ad suffering. But God says to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9)."

Just meditate on that for a minute. These are striking words, whether you've heard them a million times at mass or if you're reading them for the first time, I encourage you to think about how they apply to you in your life right now. The Scripture is alive and it speaks to us even today.

"I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12:9-10)."

So if you're going through a difficult time in your life or if there is something you're really struggling with, don't be discouraged. Hope in the Lord, for He will give you the strength you need to get through whatever you are fighting. Nothing is too much for Him to handle.

We are all human. We are all fragile creatures. We are all weak. There are always demons in this life that we must face. There is always something in your life that must be overcome so that you will be closer to Christ and closer to heaven. These weaknesses make us stronger because God's power is "made perfect in weakness". When we are weak, God will be our strength. So we don't need to rely on ourselves and our own physical strengths, but we should always cry out to God, for He is ready to give us everything we need. He wants more than anything to help us with our struggles and temptations. We can't overcome them without Him. There can be no victory over sin without the love, mercy, and strength of Jesus Christ.

In Matt Maher's song, he says "You (God) use the weak to lead the strong." So don't be afraid if God wants to use your weaknesses and your imperfections to show the world His own strength and might. Let Him work in your heart so that the whole world will come to know the beauty and strength of our almighty God. He can do great things if we let Him.

His grace is enough.

Come Home

For many Catholics, religion is all about rules and what you have to do and what you mustn't do. And if you don't follow these rules perfectly, you will go to hell. That is what many of us believe these days, even though it is very far from the truth.

The Catholic faith is not about doing everything perfectly and never making a mistake, it's about falling down and receiving from God the grace and strength to stand up and try again. It's not about being perfect and flawless, it's about recognizing our own weaknesses and overcoming them with God's mercy and love. It's not about fighting and hating our human nature, it's about realizing that we are weak creatures and we are nothing without God. It's not about blind and heartless obedience, it's about knowing and loving and serving God, doing His will, and giving Him glory in our every day lives, so that we may be happy with Him forever in heaven.

Even if you follow the rules perfectly, it doesn't guarantee salvation. We have to do all things with great love. Like it says in the Bible, "If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)."

Following Christ isn't about rules and regulations and doing meaningless things. From the very beginning, it has been the greatest and truest love story you will ever experience.

There's a beautiful song I would like to share called "Come Home" by the Christian band Luminate. Its lyrics are very powerful. Every time I hear this song, I begin to look at things differently. 

Here are the lyrics to this song:

You're best friends with the word regret
Your afraid that your life's been wasted
So why hope if it's only gonna let you down?
You don't think people really change
You're a mess and you'll always be the same
And you doubt if you'll ever get it turned around

So you've been running, searching for something
But you're looking in a place you don't belong
But it's never too late, you can't outrun grace
No, Mercy doesn't care what you've done 

Come home

Come home

You can try to fix your broken empire
Put bricks on a cracked foundation
But you'll be building castles on the sand
There's power in the blood of Jesus
Your father's screaming Just Come Home!
He's reaching out His hands

From the shadows, From the wrong roads
From the darkness, From the unknown
To redemption, Something beautiful
To a new love, to new home

I know you've been running, searching for something

But you're looking in a place you don't belong

But it's never too late, you can't outrun grace

His Mercy doesn't care what you've done

Come home

Come home

So if you feel like you're far away from God and you feel far from His love, know that He loves you still. Know that He just wants you to come home and share in His happiness and peace.

Come home.