May Grace and Peace Be With You

"Grace to you and peace from God [our] Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Thessalonians 1:2

These words from yesterday's 1st reading are also the words that the priest uses to begin every Catholic mass. It is one of those sayings that we hear so frequently that we don't stop to think about it. While most of us have a pretty good understanding of what it means to have peace in our lives, what does it mean for us to have grace?

The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" offers the following definition of grace:

Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us. But grace also includes the gifts that the Spirit grants us to associate us with his work, to enable us to collaborate in the salvation of others and in the growth of the Body of the Christ, the Church. CCC 2003

Grace is a gift from God that allows us to live out the Christian life. When we hear these words, perhaps we can be reminded of the fact that God readily pours out all the help we need to get through our daily trials and tribulations. We simply need to be open to receive it.