“For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.” St. Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430) Numidian Philosopher
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What does Grace mean to you on this Easter Sunday?
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Saint Augustine of Hippo Brief Bio (3:26)
Pray Mc Hammer (5:14)
Japanese Garden and Nature Meditation (7:24)
Analysis of How We Open Up the Flood Gates of Grace:
Today’s SFZ focuses on grace as both a divine gift and a transformative force in personal recovery. The first quote from The Basic Text marks the beginning of a new spiritual journey. It recognizes grace as an unearned gift—freely given by a loving Higher Power—and positions this grace as something to be shared. This echoes the work of theologian Henri Nouwen, who viewed today’s subject not only as a source of healing but also as an invitation to serve others. In this framework, recovery becomes more than personal salvation—it becomes a path toward community, compassion, and shared hope.
The second quote, from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, deepens this concept. It describes how consistent spiritual practice—especially meditation and prayer—enables individuals to access a greater spiritual flow. What begins as a mere trickle of understanding or faith becomes a powerful river of guidance and strength. This mirrors the ideas of Thomas Merton, who believed that contemplation opened the heart to divine presence and purpose. Through daily discipline, individuals become more receptive to such generosity of spirit, and in turn, more capable of transformation.
St. Augustine’s insight ties both passages together: grace is not a reward for goodness, but the very means by which goodness becomes possible. Grace initiates change, but it also sustains it. It empowers action, clarity, and love.
Together, these texts remind us that grace is active, not passive. It is a force that moves us inward for healing and outward for service. As we receive it, we grow; as we share it, we thrive.
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