9781644135945

The Light of the World
stone and kill the prophets, those messengers of God. “I will sing to my beloved the canticle of
my cousin concerning his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a hill in a fruitful place. And
he fenced it in, and picked the stones out of it, and planted it with the choicest vines, and built
a tower in the midst thereof, and set up a winepress therein; and he looked that it should bring
forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. . . . What is there that I ought to do more to my
vineyard, that I have not done to it?” (Is 5:1 ff.) This parable of the vineyard is a picture of the
graces which God showers upon us, especially helping grace.
Despite the splendor of sanctifying grace, it is, nevertheless, but the supernatural foundation
of the soul’s vitality. In whatever degree supernatural faculties and powers have been
planted in our soul together with sanctifying grace, in order to become efficacious they need
to be awakened by additional supernatural influences and helps. Although we have received
the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost together with sanctifying grace, these gifts are but the sails
by means of which the little ship of our soul hastens toward the shores of heaven. Since these
sails have to be swelled and moved by the powerful breath of the Holy Ghost, we need helping
graces. Despite the fact that the branch is not without life, it must be continually fed by the
vine if it is not to lose its life. Now, we are branches on Christ, the vine. From Christ life and
power flow unceasingly into the members of His mystical body, just as the life-giving sap
flows from a vine into its branches. This is the power which precedes all good works of the
members, which accompanies and follows them, bestowing that supernatural value without
which they are neither acceptable nor meritorious before God. (Cf. Council of Trent, Session
VI, chap. 16.) But the Lord, wishing to provide for their salvation and their interior growth
and sanctification, has connected some helping grace with whatever may happen to them in
life. This help may take the form of an illumination, a warning, a suggestion, or an inspiration
to make an act of love, thanksgiving, or contrition. Every moment the Lord waits at the door
of our heart with some helping grace, eager to knock and enter. It is a consoling thought that
we live in an atmosphere of grace and are surrounded by graces everywhere and at all times.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto
thee, how often would I have gathered together thy children, . . . and thou wouldest not?” (Mt
23:37.) The destruction of Jerusalem is a warning example of misused graces. “If thou also hadst
known . . . the things that are to thy peace” (Gospel). What is to our peace is a firm acceptance
of the graces of the Lord, of the understanding He imparts to us, of the interior inspirations
with which He urges us to act. “But now [the things that are to thy peace] are hidden from thy
eyes.” We misunderstand and neglect God’s graces and inspirations and follow our own will,
opposing God’s gifts and invitations with indifference or even an obstinate and defiant “no.”
Now God’s help, protection, and blessings will be taken away. Now the enemy, Satan, self-love,
and concupiscence, will have an easy victory. “[They] shall cast a trench about thee, and compass
thee round, and straiten thee on every side, . . . because thou hast not known the time of
thy visitation” (Gospel).
“All these things happened to them in figure, and they are written for our correction” (Epistle).
The liturgy of this Sunday entreats and warns us: “He that thinketh himself to stand, let him
take heed lest he fall” (Epistle).
To make light of grace and to underestimate its importance is our grievous sin. “How often
would I . . . , and thou wouldest not” (Mt 23:37). We need helping grace every moment, no
508