Last Sunday's readings very clearly pointed out to us that GOD'S WILL AND WAY OF DOING THINGS are VERY DIFFERENT FROM OUR OWN! Thank him! Thanks be to God! If we, as fallen human creatures, were responsible for orchestrating our own redemption – with all of its ramifications, regulations and rules – the project would most likely not have gotten done. And today – no one would be saved from anything – and we would not be here – we would have nothing to celebrate!
But one of us, one like us – in all things – but sin – had the power and the authority and the love necessary to put himself on the line so that the vicious cycle of selfishness could be broken: that was JESUS who HUMBLED HIMSELF – totally emptying himself of his divinity – taking on our human nature – so that he COULD NOT ONLY SHOW US THE WAY, SHOW US HOW TO USE OUR MINDS AND OUR HEARTS – BUT ACTUALLY BE THE WAY – to forgiveness of our sins – and life after death in a heaven we can just barely imagine!
The words from St. Paul's letter to the Phillippians regarding this are magnificent: "he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross!"
So, last week was GOD'S WILL AND WAY ARE BEST; this week: JESUS IS THE PERFECT MODEL OF LIVING OUT THAT WILL AND WAY- who invites us all to the same perfection, to the same holiness, to the same fullness of life that he now has.
Now he understands that so long as we are on the journey to our heavenly homeland that we will not do things perfectly – do what we perceive is God's will and way - from our own human perspective; but he did tell us that we can do things VERY PERFECTLY IF WE DO THEM FOR LOVE OF GOD THE FATHER – asking the help of the Holy Spirit – and then being willing to put that help into action when it comes. This is perfection as God sees it!
From the first reading today we see that God's Will and Way – the bottom line of all of this – is that we simply live good and virtuous lives – so that we might not die and be counted among the lost forever. Even though redemption has been accomplished – and it is available to us – we can only connect with it IF WE LEAD VIRTUOUS LIVES!: Lives filled with a desire to love God with all our hearts and to love others as we love ourselves. Those who choose the opposite path – will get the opposite verdict on Judgment Day!
The choice is yours; the choice is mine – we must wisely use the gift of free-will that God has given us and decide where we will "make the bed that we will sleep in" forever! Will it be among the virtuous; or with the evil doers?
Your ways, O Lord, make known to us; show us your paths, guide us in your truth and teach us, for you are God our Savior!
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