Grace

In sermons or lectures we often hear references to grace. We’ve heard it defined as “the unmerited favor of God.” We even recall that marvelous, though, simplistic comparison, “Justice is getting what we deserve, mercy is not getting what we deserve, and grace is getting more than we deserve.” But what’s the relationship of God’s love to grace?
I believe that grace is the manifestation of the unmerited favor of God, how He expresses his love. I’m reminded of the way ancient theologians decided that there were two types of such manifestation [which have been explained on Cursillo weekends for years].
The first way God shows us his grace is what they called “habitual,” but which I prefer to call “immersive.” This is the sea of grace in which we are bathed at all times, which never varies, but constantly sustains us. Nothing special need call attention to this—it just is. When we remind ourselves of this, it generated a deep sense of joy which life’s ups and downs cannot ruffle.
The second they refer to as “actual grace.” I like to use the term “explosive,” for it comes in discrete, clear-cut episodes—sort of like arrows of little miracles, coïncidences that God uses when He doesn’t sign his name. Sometimes they occur as answers to prayer, other times as sudden changes in circumstances that we didn’t request or forsee—maybe that we would consider nearly impossible—but come they do! We all have these; as we progess spiritually [i.e., in our relationship with him], we learn to recognize them sooner. Some may refer to these as “aha!” moments. Often I recognize them only in retrospect, although the closer I get to God, the faster I can identify what they truly are.
You just can’t pin God down—He supplies us with his grace, and it is sufficient for us!