In today’s Epistle reading, the Apostle Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians Chapter 6, “Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain.”
Foundationally, God’s grace and love is not a right that we are entitled to or deserving of. Instead, it is a gift that we receive freely. This is exemplified from the very beginning when God brings the world into his existence. He was not obligated to create the world, but he wants us to exist. Continuing on, this free gift of grace is shown when God comes in the person of Christ to eliminate our sins and when he gives us his Holy Spirit.
With this understanding of the nature of God’s grace and love, we can begin to see how we might “accept the grace of God in vain.” When we reject God’s gift, when we believe that we deserve it, and when we don’t respond to God’s grace, we are accepting it in vain. Therefore, we must always be “Working together with him,” by identifying our own will with his own will and expressing our gratitude for his gifts.
Fr. Gregory also addresses how, at certain times, God’s grace and love appears to withdraw from us. He explains that this apparent withdrawal is so that we can truly work together with God, accepting his love out of our own free will. In these times, God is allowing us to more freely come to him, making us feel the need for him who loves us.
At all times, we can accept his grace with thanksgiving, not in vain.