The grace of God makes the yoke of virtue easy, light, and pleasant

October 16, 2021 • 2 min

From The Sinner’s Guide, page 284

Reflect on these truths, and you will soon understand the Scriptures where they seem to speak in contradictory terms of the ease or difficulty of practising virtue.

At one time David says: “For the sake of the words of Thy lips I have kept hard ways.” [Ps. xvi. 4.] At another: “I have been delighted in the way of Thy testimonies, as in all riches.” [Ps. cxviii. 14.]

Both declarations are true, for the path of virtue is difficult to nature, easy to grace. Our Saviour Himself tells us this when He says: “My yoke is sweet and My burden light.” [St. Matt. xi. 30.]

By the word yoke He expresses the difficulty which nature experiences. By calling it sweet He shows us the power of grace to enable us to carry it. This He accomplishes by sharing our burden, according to that of the prophet: “I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke from their jaws.” [Osee xi. 4.]

Is it, then, astonishing that that yoke is light which God Himself bears? The Apostle experienced this when he said: “In all things we suffer tribulation, but are not distressed; we are straitened, but are not destitute; we suffer persecution, but are not forsaken; we are cast down, but we perish not.” [2 Cor. iv. 8, 9.]

Behold on one side the weight of tribulation and on the other the sweetness which God communicates to it.

Isaias expressed this even more clearly: “They that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall take wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” [Isaias xl. 31.]

Learn from this that the yoke is removed by grace, and the strength of the flesh is changed into that of the spirit, or rather the strength of God replaces that of man.

Remember also that the prophet says the just will run, though taking no pains; they will walk, and not faint.

Be not dismayed, therefore, by the roughness of a road on which you find so many aids to render your journey smooth and pleasant.

Latest book snippets

See all 519 | Random Book Snippet

Recent Blog Posts

See all

  • Law and Sin December 1, 2021 • 7 min

    St. Paul talks a lot about the law, and that it’s good, and St. John talks a lot about lawlessness, and that it’s evil. In fact, St. Paul calls the Antichrist the lawless one, and St. John says there are many antichrists before the final one. What can we learn from all this?

  • How to overcome temptations November 30, 2021 • 11 min

    Evil is light a black hole. The more you stare at it, or the closer you get, the more you are pulled in. There’s only one way to avoid getting sucked into this black hole: cling fast to God.

  • Biblical words of comfort for those who suffer injustices November 29, 2021 • 10 min

    When you feel like you can’t handle any more of the difficulties God is putting in your life, don’t despair. Jesus is going to rescue you from it soon. Here are some of the promises from the Bible to comfort and reassure you:

  • Thoughts on what Heaven will be like November 28, 2021 • 13 min

    The goal of this life is to be convinced that the Love of God is worth not sinning. And one of the best rewards we will receive, if we believe this and put it into practice faithfully until death, is Heaven. So it’s helpful to think about Heaven and what it will be like.

  • Death and Life November 27, 2021 • 8 min

    We’re so afraid of bad things happening, but that’s exactly what Jesus came here to save us from. The more we love Jesus and trust in him, the less our problems in life can hurt us.

  • How the Saints were helped in bad times, and what they recommended us to do November 26, 2021 • 9 min

    The Saints universally recommend that we meditate on the Passion of Christ, as the best thing we can do for our salvation. It’s also extremely helpful in dealing with bad times.

Books

Movies