Whether Grace is Greater in One Than in Another?
- Christian B. Wagner
- Sep 28, 2022
- 3 min read
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Collect: O God who works in us that we may receive the greater gifts, grant that we may pray as we ought, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Summary
In the Sed Contra, quotes dogmatically St. Thomas in the book of Ephesians. His commentary makes the consequence clear, "He states: we have in the Church one God, one faith, one baptism. Nonetheless, each of us has the diverse graces especially granted to him—to every one of us is given grace. As though he said: none of us lack a share in divine grace and communion, for of his fullness we all have received; and grace for grace (John 1:16). This grace, however, is certainly not bestowed on everyone uniformly and equally but according to the measure of the giving of Christ. Christ is the donor who metes out the grace to each, who have different gifts according to the grace that is given us (Rom 12:6). The variation does not spring from fate or chance, nor from merit, but from the giving of Christ; that is, according as Christ allots it to us. Only he has received the Spirit without measure (John 3:34); the rest of the saints obtain it in a limited degree, according as God has divided to every one the measure of faith (Rom 12:3). And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor (1 Cor 3:8). Again, to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability (Matt 25:15). Just as it is in Christ’s power to give or not, so he can grant more or less." (Eph.C4.L3.n205)
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