During the Mass, the priest will pray (often inaudibly) the following words over the wine and water to be consecrated, “By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled Himself to share in our humanity.”

This is one of the many beautiful parts of the liturgy that we often gloss right over without a second thought. Surely we can do more than simply gloss over words like, “may we come to share in the divinity of Christ.” What is this divinity of Christ? And what does he mean, we get to share in it?

It’s grace! The same grace that we received in Baptism, we receive through the Eucharist. This grace is God’s divinity – His divine life – within us. When we receive the body and blood of Christ, we receive more of this grace – more divinity. Who could ask for more?

What can we do with this divinity – this grace? We can do God’s will – we can imitate Jesus more perfectly. Grace isn’t going to help us achieve worldly glory, but it will help us to unite our own wills with the will of God. Through grace, we can humble ourselves as Christ humbled Himself. We can learn to recognize our own weakness and the infinite strength found in Christ.

What about life without grace – do we really need it? Read the Old Testament – the history of a people who lacked God’s grace. Their own human nature, like ours, was never enough for them to live consistently righteous lives.

On a personal note, the grace of God has helped me overcome addictive and sinful behaviors that I struggled with all my life. Though my own humanity was too weak to break free from these chains, the grace of God has been powerful enough to overcome any obstacle.

God is all powerful, and yet He “humbled Himself to share in our humanity.” He showed us that true strength is found in humility. How great is God, who humbled Himself only to pour out His blood for all of us, so that He could offer His divinity to us through this same blood.