The Free Resolve to Live by Grace Explained Through Parables and Examples

I hasten to send you a few more lines in addition to what was said before—all on the same subject.

Those who, having received grace, did not allow it to act in them but smothered it—at God’s judgment the gift of grace will first be taken from them, and then they will be cast into outer darkness. This the Savior revealed in the parable of the minas[1] (Lk. 19:11–27). To all the servants one mina was given: grace is given equally to all. But one on this mina gained ten more, another gained five, the third gained nothing: “I wrapped it up,” he says, “in a handkerchief and put it away” (Lk. 19:20). This means that the first labored most of all to be permeated by grace, the second labored half as much as he, and the third neglected the gift and was not at all concerned to kindle grace in himself. The reward was afterward given in proportion to the labors of becoming filled with grace, or the inward illumination of oneself under the action of grace. The last did nothing in this regard—and what had been so generously entrusted to him at the start was taken from him (Lk. 19:24, 26).

Do you see how the matter goes and how it ends?! We who are baptized have all received a mina—the grace of the Holy Spirit. This grace, as I already mentioned, at first acts in us alone, while we have not yet come of age. When we come of age, it is still ready at every moment to act in us, but does not act; instead it waits until we freely and willingly incline toward it, until we ourselves desire its full activity in us and seek it. As soon as we seek it, it at once begins its work in us again—arousing, directing, and strengthening us. Our being permeated by grace advances in proportion to our seeking and our labor in this seeking. But if we do not seek it and do not labor precisely for this end and in this spirit, it will not on its own act in us against our will, as it were by force. God gave man freedom and does not wish to violate it; He does not wish to enter into him and act in him against his will. When a person himself wishes to surrender to the action of God—willingly—then God also by His grace begins to act in him. If everything depended on God, then in an instant all would become holy. One gesture from God and all would be transformed. But such is the law: the person himself must will it and seek it—and then grace will not abandon him, provided only that he remain faithful to it.

Recall the Savior’s parable about the treasure hidden in a field, and about the merchant seeking precious pearls (Mt. 13:44–46). One man saw a plot of land in which a treasure was buried, went and sold everything he had and bought that plot. Of course, he afterward dug up the treasure and became rich, though this is not mentioned. This field, or plot of land, is our soul; the treasure hidden in it is the grace poured into it through Holy Baptism. The man of the parable seeing the treasure represents the moment when a Christian becomes aware that such a priceless treasure—the grace of the Holy Spirit—is hidden in him. He sold everything—this means he sacrificed everything he had, everything that was dear to him, in order to obtain that treasure: to awaken and bring to full manifestation the grace hidden in him.

The other merchant was a dealer in precious stones. He learned that somewhere there was a diamond equal to nothing else, but which those in the place where it was found did not know how to value—this I add on my own. Wishing to acquire it, he too sold everything he had and bought it. And of course he became rich. This precious pearl is also an image of the grace of God hidden in us and unknown to us until we become aware of it. Whoever becomes aware of it is at the same time convinced that there is nothing more precious than it. Therefore, with complete self-denial, he casts everything aside and throws himself into kindling and inflaming grace within himself.

From these parables you see what exactly is expected of us. It is expected, first, that we become aware of the presence of the gift of grace within us; second, that we understand its preciousness to us—so great that it is more precious than life itself, so that without it life is not life; third, that we desire with all desire to make this grace our own and ourselves belonging to it, or—which is the same thing—to be permeated by it in all our nature, to be enlightened and sanctified; fourth, that we resolve actually to achieve this; and then, fifth, that we bring this resolution to fulfillment, forsaking all things—or detaching the heart from all things and surrendering it entirely to the full activity of divine grace. When these five acts are accomplished in us, the beginning of our inner regeneration is laid down—after which, if we continue to act in the same spirit without slackening, the inner regeneration and illumination will increase, quickly or slowly, depending on our labor, and chiefly on our self-forgetfulness and self-denial.

Remember what I told you about that governess who made a sharp turn?[2] In her, all of this was accomplished. Having begun, she never looked back, but went ever further and further, higher and higher. And she arrived at a fiery blazing of grace. The grace of God does not look at what a person has been before desiring it, but only awaits that desire. And at once it begins its work—just as with the pure holy martyr Catherine, and just as with Mary of Egypt, who before that had been dissolute.

How many people in Russia are now walking this path—noble and common, men and women, widows and maidens! Blessed and most blessed souls! Blessed Augustine was long held in the bonds of a non-spiritual life, though he knew of the spiritual life and desired it. What helped him to break these bonds? A story he heard about the shining of grace in the holy Anthony the Great—an uneducated man of humble origin. On hearing this, he exclaimed: “See, these simple people outstrip us, leaving us behind with all our learning and all our standing among men.” And from that moment he broke himself and with ardor set out on the same path as the holy Anthony walked.

And what about you and me? Shall we keep making excuses or keep putting it off from day to day?! May the Lord bless you with His enlightening blessing.