We are a little over a year since the Dicastery for Doctrine of the Faith issued the controversial paper “Fiducia Supplicans”, which translates to supplicating trust. It was intended to be a positive message of comfort, care, and encouragement within the Truth of sexual morality. At the same time, it was intended to express the mercy of God and the motherhood of the Church in a way that invited those separated from us by sin to find their way to the table of grace, not entirely unlike the Syrophoenician woman from today’s Gospel reading.
We could get into quite a discussion on how the message “Fiducia Supplicans” was taken out of context and became a weapon to attack the Church and the Pope on false grounds. But, I would rather take the opportunity to talk a little about grace and blessings, particularly through the lens of the Gospel reading.
No doubt the first century Jews would have looked down on the Syrophoenician woman in a vein similar to how many Christians look down on those in same-sex relationships. Essentially saying they are not worthy to come to the table of grace.
We have to remember, the flow of grace, and therefore salvation, is through LIVING the Sacramental life of the Church. Particularly the table of grace, which is the altar where we celebrate Mass.
We receive sanctifying grace through our reception of the Sacraments (as instituted by Jesus Christ). It is sanctifying grace that enables us to become holy and continues to conform us into the image of Christ.
When we possess sanctifying grace, we are said to be in a “state of grace”. This is the state that we must be in in order to validly receive the Eucharist and be in communion with Christ through His Church. If we commit a mortal sin and therefore are no longer in a state of grace, then we no longer possess sanctifying grace and we are no longer welcome at the table to eat the food of the children. Rather, we are under the table with the dogs, hoping for some scraps.
To get back to the table, we need to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A prerequisite for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is of course a contrite heart. A contrite heart can only be created by God, through what we call actual grace.
Actual grace is external to the soul. God provides actual grace to move us to conversion and to deepen (or establish) a relationship with Him. Actual grace is fed to the children of God sitting at the table (along with sanctifying grace) to aid in their walk with God, but actual grace also constitutes the scraps that fall to the floor. The scraps that are consumed by the dogs.
While the Church can never bless sin, including same-sex relationships as well as our own personal sins; the Church has always blessed all people, including those that may be in a state of mortal sin. The Church has always blessed the sinner, just not the sin. And praise God for that, otherwise I probably would not be here today. Through the blessings of the Church, actual grace can enable the conversion of a soul and generate a contrite heart that can lead a person to a good and holy confession.
Let us be conduits of actual grace to those that may currently be living immoral lives. Let us be conduits of actual grace to those that may be living lives that we may not agree with. Let us no longer deny them the blessings offered by the Church. Let us support them that through the blessings of the Church, they may receive the actual grace necessary to have a conversion of heart. Let us support them, that through the blessings of the Church, they may receive the opportunity to be converted into children of God so that they may receive sanctifying grace with us at the table of the Eucharist.
Thanks be to God!
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