WE SEE the grace of God openly working in life. If a man was proud, a lover
of self, and unkind, but became humble and gracious, he became so by the power
of grace. By the power of grace the unbeliever becomes a believer; the lover of
money, no longer greedy, but honest and generous by the power of grace. The
glutton becomes moderate in eating from the conscious knowledge of high moral
purpose, by the grace of God; he who hated and was full of malice, a lover of
his fellow man by the power of grace; he who was cold toward God and toward the
Church is transformed, he becomes a fervent believer in God, by the act of
grace. "From this it is evident that many live without grace, not knowing
its importance and its need for themselves, and do not seek it... Many live in
all kinds of abundance, and pleasure, but they have no grace in their hearts,
this most valuable treasure for the Christian, without which the Christian
cannot be a true Christian and inherit the kingdom of God."
"The sign of God's mercy and that of His Most Holy Mother of God toward
us, after or during prayer, is peace within the heart, especially after the
affect of some passion, which is the absence of peace of soul. By peace of soul
and a certain holy inclination of the heart we can easily ascertain that our
prayer is heard and the grace asked for is received."
Take advantage then, Christian, of God's treasure of grace! "When you
pray to the Father and the Holy Spirit in the Trinity, the One God, do not seek
Him outside yourself, but perceive Him within yourself as living in you,
completely penetrating within you and knowing you. Know ye not that ye are
temples of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"
Remember "that your soul is like some imprint of godliness and all the
riches of the soul consist of God, as within a treasure (the treasure of grace)
from which we can draw every spiritual good, by the prayer of faith, and by
patience, and by purifying ourselves from all iniquity."
"As there is an overabundance of sources of water on earth, and all
drink from them, come and draw freely, for the Lord is an ocean of spiritual
waters; come and draw all the spiritual good with the dipper of true, firm, and
unashamed faith. Only extend this hearty dipper and you will inevitably draw
abundantly the water of life, the forgiveness of sins, and peace of conscience.
But fear doubt; it deprives you of the means of drawing forth every mercy of
God."
The waters from this source you will also find in communion with the saints
during prayer; they are in the graceful life of the Church. "The
priesthood and in general, all the saints, are blessed water containers, from
which the water of grace is transmitted to other believers. Living waters will
flow from the depths of rivers."
In such a manner Father John teaches us the fundamental truths of the
Christian faith and life founded on these truths. The value of his theological
teaching for us consists in the close connection between his theological
thought, his words, his life, and all his sanctified activity. The value is in
this, that his personal life is justified, proved, and realized by his faith in
action. "Experience!" - "Based on experience!" with this
exclamation Father John often finishes his separate writings. "No
matter how many times I prayed with faith, God always heard me and answered
my prayers." What can be said stronger than these words?
