Scripture and the Reformation: God Comes to Us

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. ~ Ephesians 2:8-9
The most damnable and pernicious heresy that has ever plagued the mind of man was the idea that somehow he could make himself good enough to deserve to live with an all-holy God. ~ Martin Luther
The movement in our relationship to God is always from God to us. Always. We can't, through our piety or goodness, move closer to God. God is always coming near to us. Most especially in the Eucharist and in the stranger. ~ Nadia Bolz-Weber

At the heart of the Reformation is this: God comes to us.

 Always.

 Nothing we do can earn that divine love.

 Nothing we do can merit us grace.

 Nothing we do can bring us to a heavenly bliss.

 We can't make ourselves worthy by pulling ourselves up by our own boot straps.

 God doesn't just help those who help themselves.

 God helps those who can't help themselves.

 And everyone in between.

 We don't earn it.

 We don't deserve it more than the person who annoys us or frightens us.

 We don't deserve it more than those who aren't in our tribe.

 We don't deserve it because of what we do, who we hang with, how much or little we have.

 God comes to us.

 We are loved already.

 We deserve unmerited grace because God says so.

 Because God loves us.

 Because God calls creation good.

 Because God loves to give gifts!

 And every now and then we are given a tangible glimpse of that grace. We feel strengthened by Holy Communion with God and with each other.

 We touch the hand of the stranger: the neighbor who needs grace as much as we do.

 God comes to us in those moments of epiphany. 

 And God comes to us in the moments we miss.

 God comes to us. Always.
Prayer: Come Holy One, and help me to see it, feel it, know it. Always. Amen

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