FS #24: Soul of Franciscan Spirituality, Part 4 – May 05 – Homily – Fr Terrance
Views 291
Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on May 05, 2023, where he continues his series on Franciscan Spirituality, focusing today on how love, the soul of this spirituality, is a grace from God. Love is grace and vice versa.
God is love and creates for love. (Ephesians 2:10 - We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/2?10) Love gives, and even though we receive the gift of life from God, we aren't His children by nature. Jesus Christ, in His sacred humanity, is the only created being who is the Son of God by nature. We're children of God by adoption, (Romans 8:29 - Jesus is the firstborn among many brothers and sisters - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/8?29) and through sanctifying grace, God loves us as He loves His Son, Jesus. Sanctification is a work of love, and participation in God's life is a participation in divine charity. (John 17:26 - Jesus prayed for the Father's love to be in us - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/17?26)
Grace is love and charity, and sacred scripture shows that charity and grace are interchangeable. Some examples from Scripture include:
1. 1 Corinthians 13 - Charity is greater than faith and hope, and is the form of every virtue - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/13
2. Romans 5:5 - The love of God is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/5?5
3. 1 John 3:1 - Our divine adoption comes through charity - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/3?1
4. John 14:21 - Jesus and the Father love those who keep Jesus' commandments - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?21
5. 1 John 3:14 - We have passed from death to life because we love one another - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/3?14
6. 1 John 4:7-8 - Those who love are born of God and know God - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/4?7-8
7. 1 John 4:16 - He who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/4?16
In conclusion, the Franciscan school says it's impossible to distinguish grace from charity. Charity is not just an infused virtue; it's grace, a participation in the life of God, who is Himself charity. We ask our Lady to help us live more in God's grace, which means living more in His love.
00:00 - Introduction
00:16 - Sanctification as a Work of Love
01:00 - Jesus Christ as the Natural Son of God
01:33 - The Supreme Grace in Jesus' Humanity
02:25 - Adoption as Children of God
03:31 - Sanctification as a Work of Love (continued)
04:11 - Grace as Participation in Divine Charity
07:02 - The Interchangeability of Grace and Charity in Scripture
This is a continuation of his series of homilies on Franciscan Spirituality - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN151zTIO4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4xgMllKrzSasL2Hljd5BHom
The material for this series comes primarily from Ciccarelli, Marciano M., "I capisaldi della spiritualità francescana" in Italian, which translates as "The Cornerstones of Franciscan Spirituality". No English translations exist at the time of this recording.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Friday 4th Week of Easter - Wkdy
Readings: - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050523.cfm
1st: act 13:26-33
Resp: psa 2:6-11
Gsp: joh 14:1-6
More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1712
Also on Facebook: https://fb.watch/kkRQnPZhuH/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/2dKbDA3cdT0
