358. (iii) A person can acquire for himself a life of faith and charity.
It is the same with this, for he acquires it when he approaches the Lord, who is life itself. Nor is the approach to Him blocked for anyone, since He constantly invites everyone to come to Him. For He said:
He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. And I will not cast out anyone who comes to me, John 6:35, 37.
Jesus stood and cried, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink, John 7:37.
Elsewhere:
The kingdom of the heavens is like [a king] 1
, who held his son's wedding, and sent his servants to summon the guests. And finally he said, Go to the ends of the streets 2
, and invite to the wedding anyone you find, Matthew 22:1-9.
Surely no one can help knowing that the invitation or summons is addressed to everyone, and so is the grace shown in receiving them.
The reason why a person is given life by approaching the Lord is that the Lord is life itself, not only the life of faith, but also the life of charity. It is evident from the following passages that the Lord is life, and man's life comes from the Lord:
In the beginning was the Word. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, John 1:1, 4.
As the Father raises up the dead and makes them live, so the Son makes him whom He wishes live, John 5:21.
As the Father has life in Himself, so did He grant the Son to have life in Himself, John 5:26.
The bread of God it is which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world, John 6:33.
The words which I speak to you are spirit and life, John 6:63.
Jesus said, He who follows me will have the light of life, John 8:12.
I have come so that they may have life, and have it in abundance, John 10:10.
He who believes in me, though he die, shall live, John 11:25.
I am the way, truth and life, John 14:6.
Because I live, you too shall live, John 14:19.
These things have been written so that you may have life in His name, John 20:31.
He is everlasting life. 1 John 5:20.
Life in faith and charity means spiritual life, which is given to a person by the Lord during his natural life.
Footnotes:
