[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

<< Tuesday, November 11, 2003 >>

St. Martin of Tours

Wisdom 2:23—3:9

Psalm 34

Luke 17:7-10

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JESUS: THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN

“They are in peace.” —Wisdom 3:3

After their deaths, the souls of some people “are in the hand of God” (Wis 3:1). These people are “the just” (Wis 3:1), “those who trust” in the Lord (Wis 3:9), “the faithful” (Wis 3:9), the “holy ones” (Wis 3:9), and “the elect” (Wis 3:9).

To be just is to avoid sin and to repair the devastating effects of sin. This is, of course, impossible except in Jesus, our Justice (see Jer 23:6; 1 Cor 1:30).

To trust in the Lord means to trust the Lord completely, to love Him with all our hearts and souls, and to live for Him alone.

To be faithful means to do what we have promised, especially our baptismal promises. In effect, it means not to sin.

To be holy means to be like God in every aspect of our conduct (1 Pt 1:15). We need Jesus to baptize us in the Spirit of holiness in order to be holy (see Mk 1:8).

Jesus is also the One to elect us, that is, choose us. He said: “It was not you who chose Me, it was I Who chose you” (Jn 15:16).

Jesus is obviously the only Way to heaven (see Jn 14:6). Only if we live and die in Jesus will we live forever. Give your life and death totally to Jesus.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, in Jesus I will be with You forever.

Promise: “Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of Himself.” —Wis 3:5

Praise: St. Martin, once a pagan and a soldier, gave his life to Christ to such an extent that he was imprisoned for his anti-war beliefs.

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	Nobody Ever Earned Grace
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Tuesday, November 11, 2003

Wisdom 2:23-3:9 / Lk 17:7-10

There are some passages in the scriptures that people really don’t like, and the end of today’s gospel is one of them. For those of us who work hard to do the right thing, and to be dutiful and responsible, even when it costs us a lot, it’s not very amusing to be told that we ought to count ourselves as useless servants who only did our duty! True, indeed.

But that misses the real intent of Jesus’ words, which is not to minimize our efforts or our accomplishments. Jesus’ purpose is to underscore that, no matter how terrific we are, we can never earn or merit the wonderful gifts that God wants to give us free.

So relax. God knows how hard we’re trying, even though we keep falling painfully short. He just wants us to know that in the end he desires to give us the kingdom and to give us life. And in doing that, he’s giving us a model for dealing with one another: Give what is needed, not because it’s earned, but simply because it is needed. A share in God’s joy will be our reward.