Grace

"Grace makes beauty out of ugly things."
31b Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. (Matthew 21:31-32) 

Grace challenges everything we know. Grace upsets the world’s notions of justice, equality, and retribution. Grace says tax collectors, thieves and prostitutes (and even their 21st century equivalents) are welcomed into the God’s Kingdom as much as we are. Grace says that men and women in prison, serving life sentences for heinous crimes, can be just as forgiven as we religious folk, or “normal sinners,” are. Grace is a scandal because it looks at ugliness and sees beauty, it looks at hurt and sees healing; grace looks at tit for tat, eye for eye and tooth for tooth as says, “No, forgive your enemies, love those who seek to do you harm.” 

Where does the scandal of grace fit into your spiritual journey? Do you hold grudges and carry baggage from hurt, pains, or crimes against you? Do you carry the weight of doubt when it comes to God’s acceptance of you, regardless of how “colorful” your past—or present—may be?

The “Law of Karma” says you get what you give. If you give good, you get good. If you give pain, or hurt or evil, that is what you get in return. Grace travels outside of Karma, and—Thank God!—we don’t get what we deserve. But we are challenged to give Grace as we have received it.  Maybe that's a message we need to listen to more than anything else.

If Grace walked up to you, would you be willing to listen the strings of her music as she says, “You are loved. You are forgiven. Take my hand and walk with me.”