Discussion about this post

User's avatar
John Gayle's avatar

"He could say it, because grace is the power to keep promises, not merely—not even fundamentally—the ability to be excused when we do not."

I love this section. A good friend of mine told me once about this priest who would repeat the prayer "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner," to himself non-stop (I'm pretty sure it was a fictional story, but still very compelling). So I too have began doing so not even understanding what I was saying, but knowing it needed to be said. Had I need for mercy because of how greatly I was sinning before those moments of prayer? Maybe, but I think now I understand that prayer more. It is not always "Have mercy on me because I just sinned and need your blood to cleanse me," though that may be true. I think now I say it and mean "Have mercy, Lord, that I may walk in your ways right now when I am given this choice to do so."

Mercy and grace to do the right thing, not just to be made right after doing the wrong thing.

Thanks again Ross!

Expand full comment
Christina Lynn Wallace's avatar

Woman reader here for whom this piece was not written — nevertheless, I say “Bravo.”

Expand full comment
41 more comments...

No posts