God's Grace

Do not Forfeit God's Grace Fr Jacob Eranat

Verses 14-17, chapter 12 of the epistle to the Hebrews, state: "Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defeated(cf Deut 29:18). See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal. You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected (cf Gen 25:29-34), for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing with tears"(cf Gen 27:30-40).

Listen to Hebrews, chapter 6, verses four to six. "... it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt."

Time was when it was believed that the author of Hebrews was St Paul. But today it is generally acknowledged that an appraisal of the literary style, presentation and the discourse on the priesthood of Christ show that not St Paul, but perhaps a disciple of his who had, like him, excellent knowledge of the church, and was a thinker and orator, must have been the author.

These verses quoted above from the letter which was written with a persecuted community in view should be attentively studied by the modern world - particularly the Christian community. The root of bitterness
A Christian is called to daily take up his cross and follow Christ. On this journey, we have to encounter powers, influences, crises and obstacles that turn us back, or paralyse us or deaden us, just as the birds of the air and aeroplanes have to face unfavourable winds and tempests. Just as fishes and ships sailing in the sea have to swim against cross currents and ocean waves, human beings have to encounter several crises in the journey of life. Knowing this, we move forward-putting on the armour of light(cf Rom 13:11-14). There is a possibility that in this pilgrimage of man towards the heavenly kingdom, the root of bitterness delves deeper into his heart and leaves him paralyzed. St Paul, writing to the Christian community in Rome, refers to these roots of bitterness likely to grow in the heart of man(cf Rom 1:16-32). The adoration due only to God is given to men and created things, to wealth and fame, to alcohol and drugs; to sex and impurity. Man and woman exchange natural sexual relations for unnatural...They consider it below their dignity to acknowledge God, obey his precepts, and observe the commandments of the Church. They commit all sorts of heinous crimes without fear or shame, with demonic energy-covetousness, envy, murder, rivalry, deceit, revenge and gossip. They slander and malign others, blaspheme, become haughty and boastful. They disobey their parents and deceive their life-partner. Not only are they hard-hearted and merciless, but they also accept those who, like themselves, indulge in such evil deeds.

These are the roots of bitterness that grow in man. Unless these roots are completely removed and plucked out, man cannot think properly or possess a moral base for his actions either in his family or in society. Those once enlightened
The situation of those, who had once received the true faith and had grown in it, but stray from that divine path, is like heavenly bodies displaced from their orbits, colliding with other bodies across their path and causing immense destruction. The collapse of meteors and the disappearance of some stars can be explained in this way. The end of the world will happen in a similar manner, assert the astronomers.

It is difficult to describe the disastrous effect and consequences of the moral collapse of those who had once occupied a high position in society. The impact of their fall on their followers and observors is particularly tragic. A Christian is a city built on a hill that cannot be hid"(Mt 5:15). He cannot be concealed. Christians are observed from varied view points by non-Christians. The faults and shortcomings seen in those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour are more grievous than the defects seen in others. They also cause scandal and weaken people. The treatment they get is that meted out to salt that has lost its saltness.They are cast away. Moreover, they become the source of danger to others.

Christian students, youth, couples, parents, officials, workers and employers, teachers, priests, religious, Christian actionists, media-personnel and all who have any public relations, should be deeply, and clearly conscious of the greatness of their position and have firm convictions about their responsibilities. People in the lower eschelons of society look upon and imitate those in high positions just as the lower courts of justice quote and abide by the judgements of the higher courts of law.

It is not possible to describe the utter despair and heartache of those who had been abiding in the higher levels of spirituality and had had a deep God-experience, but unfortunately lost their faith or fell very low in morality. They put on a false appearance and pretend to be happy. They are daily consumed in the fire of self-deception. This is in fact hell on earth.