Dec 18, 2022Liked by Missio Dei Catholic, Chantal LaFortune, Deacon Mark Mueller
Yes, I must confess that I am more preoccupied with the state of my own soul. I easily forget to pray for others’s hearts to be softened; for grace to be extended to them; to accept that grace willingly.
Note, I never claimed that we are the source of either faith nor grace. The source is clearly God. When we do not give freely of the gift—grace, then the grace given to us by God is is gift no longer.
All good works are from God. It’s clear in the patristic tradition too, especially Augustine. And yet, we’re co-workers (in the sense of with) in the vineyard as we cooperate with God’s grace—the loop of grace.
Mt. 10:8
“Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give”
I read the passages you have quoted from Aquinas and Fulton Sheen a little differently. Rather than directing them toward those to whom we are to speak, I read them as directed towards us, the ones who must speak. we must receive the gift of faith ourselves before we can speak. But we must continually receive it again, because we ourselves are often challenged in faith, especially when it comes to being willing to step out in faith to speak to others. We must be strengthened in our own faith by continual prayer in order to be able to speak to those to whom we are sent. 
I suppose my response would be that it’s not an either/or assertion on my part.
The gift of faith is a gift--grace. And grace is a free gift and for it to remain grace we must give it freely.
The gift of faith & then the assent to faith which Peter describes above is a twofold movement of the will assenting to things not self evident & acts of charity.
In order to have grace, we need to draw close to God (cf. James 4:5-10; 1Peter 5:5-7). This goes further than the belief faith applied to the revelation of the gospel. Luke 20:18 refers to faith in Christ. Abraham had faith in God. Drawing close to God is an act of the will. The Holy Spirit that is associated with Baptism imparts faith to us by the fruit of the Spirit when we walk in the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:16-26). Assenting to whatever has been divinely delivered is only part of it.
Yes, I must confess that I am more preoccupied with the state of my own soul. I easily forget to pray for others’s hearts to be softened; for grace to be extended to them; to accept that grace willingly.
Exactly, I totally agree! Well said!!!
I receive the gift of faith--I don't give it. The Holy Spirit gives it. We can bear witness but not give faith and/or grace.
Here is another of +Barron’s sermons on the “loop of grace.”
https://www.wordonfire.org/videos/sermons/the-loop-of-grace/
Here is a good sermon from Bishop Barron on giving away the grace you’ve received from God.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zoK8uXl3f9c
No.
There is a nuance here.
Note, I never claimed that we are the source of either faith nor grace. The source is clearly God. When we do not give freely of the gift—grace, then the grace given to us by God is is gift no longer.
All good works are from God. It’s clear in the patristic tradition too, especially Augustine. And yet, we’re co-workers (in the sense of with) in the vineyard as we cooperate with God’s grace—the loop of grace.
Mt. 10:8
“Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give”
I read the passages you have quoted from Aquinas and Fulton Sheen a little differently. Rather than directing them toward those to whom we are to speak, I read them as directed towards us, the ones who must speak. we must receive the gift of faith ourselves before we can speak. But we must continually receive it again, because we ourselves are often challenged in faith, especially when it comes to being willing to step out in faith to speak to others. We must be strengthened in our own faith by continual prayer in order to be able to speak to those to whom we are sent. 
I suppose my response would be that it’s not an either/or assertion on my part.
The gift of faith is a gift--grace. And grace is a free gift and for it to remain grace we must give it freely.
The gift of faith & then the assent to faith which Peter describes above is a twofold movement of the will assenting to things not self evident & acts of charity.
It’s not either/or
but rather
Both/and
In order to have grace, we need to draw close to God (cf. James 4:5-10; 1Peter 5:5-7). This goes further than the belief faith applied to the revelation of the gospel. Luke 20:18 refers to faith in Christ. Abraham had faith in God. Drawing close to God is an act of the will. The Holy Spirit that is associated with Baptism imparts faith to us by the fruit of the Spirit when we walk in the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:16-26). Assenting to whatever has been divinely delivered is only part of it.