Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Have you ever been asked the question, “Are you saved?” At first, this question can catch Catholic’s off guard as it is not part of our usual vocabulary. Part of a Catholic response comes from today’s first reading. A proper answer to “have we been saved” is three-fold. We have been saved when Jesus died as a final sacrifice for us. We are being saved. Salvation is a process worked out with fear and trembling. We will be saved in the resurrection on the last day. Yet Paul’s letter to the Philippians’ suggests another important distinction that is often unaccounted for the question of one’s salvation.
“Are you saved” in many ways is a product of the American spirit of rugged individualism. Yet consider the context of Paul’s letter which was written to a community of believers. Paul writes “My beloved, …work out your faith in fear and trembling.” (Phil. 2:12) Paul’s letter says this needs to happen as a community. Paul also suggests that this community journey is to be done without grumbling.
Especially in a political season where division and obstruction seems to be a means to an end; one might wonder is there such thing as no more grumbling. At school, we might hear this principal is not very supportive of our children. At work we may be struck by the fact that co-workers cannot even talk to one another. Where does the grumbling stop? And when will we consider that we may not get to heaven unless our community gets there all together. We cannot see the relationships in our houses, workplaces or communities as adversarial or else we are houses divided.
Division in any case makes it tough. Today’s gospel reminds us that even a divided heart could tear us apart. What are your first priorities? Are they all equal? Does your faith journey both as an individual and in the context of community come before even these priorities? Do our possessions or bank accounts get more daily attention than our prayer lives?
Paul today challenges us to step back and look at our faith journey from the view point of our community of faith. Consider today one practical way to be more connected with your faith community. Realize that your community needs you, and it clearly show God you love Him and one another. If anyone ever asks you “Are you Saved?” now you have a richer answer. And you can make clear that salvation is something that Catholic’s believe is rooted in being part of a community of faithful disciples!
-Michael Montgomery