It takes two hands to clap - Understanding Augustine's "Operative" and "Co - operative" grace

IT TAKES TWO HANDS TO CLAP – UNDERSTANDING AUGUSTINE’S “OPERATIVE” AND “CO – OPERATIVE” GRACE

Cl. Mario D’Couto SDB

            It is not sufficient enough for a team to have a good coach or a movie or a musical director to have a good script. The success of such things is mutual. Everything, so to say, plays an important role in the success of a particular thing. Some time back, I had composed a musical and when we had put it up, it was well appreciated by the audience. There were many people who patted me on the back and said, “Well done!” But I know that the credit for the success of the musical was partly due to the efforts of all those who gave in their best to put up a good musical show (besides my efforts in composing it). For it can very well happen that there can be a good script and a good director but if there are no good actors or singers, it would obviously turn out to be a disaster. The same could happen the other way round, when there are good singers and actors but yet if there is no good director or script, the result would be the same.

            Applying the same analogy in the context of our relationship with God, I am reminded of one of St. Augustine’s teachings on “Operative grace” and “Co – operative grace.” To put it very plainly, “Operative grace” speaks about God’s action on us and “Co – operative grace” speaks about our response to God’s action on us. When we respond to God affirmatively and obey Him, then our lives will turn out to be for the better. This is not to say that we will never face problems. Problems will be there! But, just as an anchor helps the ship to remain steady in the midst of a storm, our faith in God Almighty will help us stay grounded in the midst of our problems, doubts, trials and difficult moments.

            Miracles don’t happen just like that and hence one cannot become ‘good’ or ‘holy’ by mere wishful thinking. We respond to God’s action by a conscious effort to do what is right. There is every possibility that we would fall but yet that does not mean we have gone off – track completely. We can always come back to Him because His love and mercy is eternal! Let us therefore be careful not to abuse the affinity that God Almighty has for us and live in responding to His call every day.


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