COSTLY GRACE

In the eyes of the world, the Cross is an instrument of defeat, shame, humiliation, cruelty, violence, betrayal and death. In fact, the Romans used the Cross as a Horrible punishment against convicted criminals. But for us Christians and believers, the Cross is an instrument of our salvation that gives us new life and empowers us to share in the life of God. In Jesus we have full access to God. We are not anymore condemned and punished. We are reconciled with God. The Cross is a powerful reminder of God’s immense, excessive and extravagant love for us. He did not spare Jesus, His Son from death. He withholds nothing to us not even His only Son to lead us to the goodness He desires for us. The Cross is the wisdom and power of God, scandal to the Jews and stumbling block to the gentiles. But for us believers, the Crucified Christ is the power if God because only God’s love is the true power. The Cross is the wisdom of God because it is the key, the doorway to life, the heart of God through which we glimpse the mystery of the divine love. On the Cross, Jesus reveals that God’s love is stronger than death, greater than our infidelities, betrayals and sins. Nothing is beyond God’s grace, love and mercy. The Cross is not optional because it is the shape and heartbeat of our Christian life. We are called to integrity. We are called to stand against evil, sin and injustice. We are called to love the way God loves, to give all and love to the end. Jesus does not eliminate suffering but transforms it. True love involves Sacrifice. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that he who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) This is costly grace because we have been bought at a grace price, the blood of the Son. What has been costly to God cannot be cheap for us. Failing to believe in Jesus and rejecting Him result to self condemnation and self judgment. The work of Christ is efficacious only if we accept His gift of salvation. Salvation is not a passive gift. It requires an active reception of the gift. Faith is not static. It redefines everything: our values, priorities, relationships and even our very selves. It transforms us and empowers us to transform the lives of others. Grace is costly because God demands first place in our lives. He is the foundation of all love, the supreme and ultimate good, the absolute treasure. When we are grounded and centered in His love all our actions and relationships fall into the right place.