Many Biblical scholars believe that the last verse of the Bible chronologically is 2 Peter 3:18. The Lord's last word in the Bible may be His command to grow in grace. The Lord wants us all to become like Him and grow in age, wisdom, and grace (Lk 2:52). He orchestrates our lives so that we will be "complete in Christ" (Col 1:28), "grow to the full maturity of Christ the Head" (Eph 4:15), and "form that perfect man who is Christ come to full stature" (Eph 4:13).

To grow, we must:

• eat the spiritual food of God's word (Mt 4:4) and the Eucharist (Jn 6:55),
• exercise and "train" ourselves "for the life of piety" (1 Tm 4:7), and
• suffer (1 Pt 1:6) that we "may be fully mature and lacking in nothing" (Jas 1:4).

Growth is a grace. Only God can make us grow. However, the grace of spiritual growth is not imposed on us. We should decide to act to receive God's grace. The last word of the Bible and the first word of this Lent of the year of the Great Jubilee may be: "Grow...in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pt 3:18).

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, July 28, 1999

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 3, 1999