THE GIFT OF REDEMPTION

 

THE GIFT OF REDEMPTION

We celebrate today the Feast of All Souls. We, the Church Militant (still fighting the good fight for salvation here on earth), pray along with the Church Triumphant (those in heaven who have received their eternal reward) for the Church Suffering (those still being purified in purgatory while awaiting their eternal reward). The Church Militant, Triumphant, and Suffering are one. Today’s feast reminds us to pray for those who have gone before us but still need to be purified.

St. Paul tells us that while we were still sinners, God chose to send His Son, Jesus, to die for us. This is an extraordinary act. It is easy to believe that someone would die for a good person, but that is not what we were at the time. We were riddled with sin in an unredeemed state. In Chapters 5 and 6 of Romans, Paul celebrates our status as the beloved of God.

The work of redemption, while completed through Jesus’ death and resurrection, is an ongoing reality. It is the application of the grace of salvation that is incomplete. God has done all that He needs to do to make redemption possible, but we are yet to receive the fullness of this grace.

It is God, not us, who works out our salvation. We receive the gift through faith and then live the grace under the power of the Holy Spirit. This is why the Church teaches us that salvation is both a “now” and “not yet” reality. “Now” in the sense that Jesus has accomplished the work of salvation given to Him by His Father, and “not yet” in the sense that it is still being applied to our lives. We are still fighting for its completion—our redemption. That is why we are called the Church Militant. We are a part of a cosmic battle to bring the grace of redemption to our lives and the world. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

What are you presently doing that could be regarded as preparation for eternal life? Are you taking the work of your salvation seriously?

Holy Spirit, awaken in my heart and mind the urgency of the need for conversion in my life. Help me to live according to the will of God and His commandments. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________