We must not forget that we have been elevated, freely and without any merit of our own, to the dignity of children of God. Yet, by ourselves, we are not only servants, but unprofitable servants, incapable of carrying out what our Father has entrusted to us unless He gives us His help. Divine grace is the only thing that can enhance our human talents to work for Christ, to be His collaborators, and to perform meritorious works.
Our own capacity bears no relation to the supernatural fruits we seek. Without sanctifying grace, we would be good for nothing. We are like "the brush in the hands of the artist"³. The great works that God wishes to accomplish with our lives must be attributed to the Artist, not the brush. The glory of the painting belongs to the painter; the brush, if it had a life of its own, would have the immense joy of having collaborated with such a great master, but it would make no sense for it to claim the merit for itself. If we are humble—since "walking in truth" means being aware that we are unprofitable servants—we will feel impelled to ask for the grace necessary for every work we perform.
Another practical consequence that we can draw from this teaching given to us by Jesus is to always reject any praise we receive—at least in our hearts—and direct it to the Lord, for any good thing that has come from our hands must be attributed first and foremost to God, who "can use a staff to make water gush from a rock, or a bit of clay to restore sight to the blind"⁴. We are the clay that gives sight to the blind, the staff that makes a spring gush forth in the middle of the desert…, but Christ is the true author of these wonders. What would the clay do by itself...? Only stain.
HCD