Daily Journey Through the Great Fast With the Early Churchনমুনা

We cannot save ourselves by our own good works, but salvation is a "faith working through love" [Galatians 5:6]. Salvation was initiated by God - “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” [John 15:16]. Salvation is an ongoing, lifelong process of past, present and future...not a one-time proclamation. In the past tense, salvation was having been saved by the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ - “we have been saved” [Romans 8:24, Ephesians 2:5]. In the present tense, we must also be saved by our active participation through faith in our union with the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit - “we are being saved” [1 Corinthians 1:18, 15:2]. In the future tense, we must be saved at His glorious Second Coming - “we will be saved” [Romans 5:10]. St. Paul thinks of justification as an event to take place in the future and also as a part of the final judgment (Romans 2:13, 16).

A few days ago, we talked about the Old Testament and the concept of salvation - there were glimpses of hope and prophecies of that promise but not knowing where you would go was scary; however, when Jesus died on the Cross we were assured where we were going in the life to come - back home to be with Him.

How can we believe that the gift of salvation is an unshakeable promise, that God won’t change His mind down the road or if we do something bad that we lose that chance of eternal life forever? God's love and grace are eternal - in Jeremiah 31:3 God says, "I have loved you with an eternal love". God doesn't save us according to the number of good deeds we do, but by His grace and the fact that I do good deeds as proof that He loves me and I love Him (Matthew 25:31-46).

Romans 8:35-39 says nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What about when we sin and separate ourselves from Him? He still loves us, even then! 1 John 1:9 says that God is righteous and faithful - “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If we confess, He will forgive - there is no chance that when we sincerely repent and then sincerely confess our sins to Him in the presence of the priest that God will not forgive our sins. Jesus Christ does not change, nor will He change His mind - “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” [Hebrews 13:8]. If we come to Him, He will take us in and will not cast us out - “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” [John 6:37].

His promise of salvation is unchangeable and an unconditional promise! Rest easy and be assured of this promise! Today He rides triumphantly into Jerusalem, He is “Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:10) meaning, “Save us, we pray!” and He saved, He saves and He will save. Allow Him to triumphantly ride to the Jerusalem of your heart. Allow Him to be your King, your “Hosanna in the highest!”

Do not let the devil (“the father of lies” - John 8:44) trick you into thinking there is a sin you need to be ashamed of and cannot confess to the priest. Our Father in Heaven sees us when we sin and He is faithful to forgive us when we sincerely confess with our hearts to Him in the presence of the priest. Our salvation is secured and will never be taken away, but that promise is made good while we still have a chance here on Earth - so do not quit in the spiritual struggle, do not delay to repent and confess, do not wait for the second judgment but rather examine and judge yourself daily, do not delay in holding to the truths of the Gospel, do not delay in the freedom you receive in faith in God, do not delay in reading Scripture because to know the Scripture is the beginning of knowing God, do not delay in the amazing healing of His love, do not delay in being united with Him in the Eucharist, do not delay to proclaim to Him, “Hosanna in the highest!”, do not delay in acting on the promise of His Resurrection and Salvation!

“The marvel is, not that men have failed to know Christ, but that they have not listened to the words of the Scriptures.” [St. Ambrose, 4th century Bishop of Milan]

“But do not sin, O man, expecting that you will repent; and do not succumb [to sin] being confident of forgiveness! Remember that death will not delay. Do not craftily seek means to draw out the pleasure of sin with a dishonest mind! God is not mocked [Gal. 6:7]. His knowledge precedes your thoughts. Affliction will overtake you suddenly, and when you cry out, He will not answer you.” [St. Isaac the Syrian, 7th century Bishop of Nineveh and theologian]

“How long shall we neglect our own salvation? Let us bear in mind of what things Christ has deemed us worthy, let us give thanks, let us glorify Him, not by our faith alone, but also by our very works, that we may obtain the good things that are to come, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom and with whom, to the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory, now and ever and world without end” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]