+ St Paul tells the Philippians, and it applies to us as well, that
once safe in the Body of Christ, the Church, we have to work for our salvation! Now, wait a minute, isn’t that already a
contradiction that doesn’t make too much sense: if salvation is a free gift,
and cannot be worked for, then why are we ordered now to “work for it.” Good
question!
The key to the answer is the
Prime Mover, or the Origin of the Salvation: and that is God in his mercy, love
and forgiveness. We may not be able to produce the salvation on our own, but
once its deposited in our souls, then we darn well better work to keeping it
there – and to reach it.
So faith and works, good works
done in imitation of Christ, and for love of his Father, is the formula for
life, here and hereafter!
The “world” – held hostage by
the Devil – for the time being – though not permanently so – will always be
“the crooked and perverse” reality that all are meant to wallow in as a test – but
activated and energized, like the bunny, we are meant to shine like lights, like
stars, like objects of hope, in the twisted and perverse generation that will
always be there – until the end of time.
Jesus puts it another way in
the gospel passage: if you want to complete your salvation – then you must
focus on it absolutely and totally – turning away from an attachments to
family, work, pleasure or anything else – you must take up your cross and
follow me to the kingdom – the is your “work of salvation” – “I carried my
cross to Calvary” – your are to carry yours to the same place – so you can have
the full benefits of my Resurrection – which I activated for you!
Did you not know or remember,
that every time you come to Mass – you come to the one and the same Sacrifice
of Calvary – you are there – so that your sins the you commit now, and those of
your brothers and sisters in the church for whom you pray – will be forgiven –
and the gates of heaven will be opened widely to us and to them!
May the communion we receive
today be truly the pledge of our participation in our own reconciliation with
God – and may we resemble more and more in thought, word and deed, the Christ
who becomes us, and we become him as the host digests into both our physical
and spiritual systems.
Lord, help me to keep my light
shining brightly so I can see my way through this day, and so I can help others
see their way as well! Amen.
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