When salvation is personal

Each time I listen to Von Madonna’s music, DON’T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA, there are lines that take me into the depth of my being. When I am misunderstood, I see meaning in this line: “It won’t be easy, you think it’s strange, when I try to explain how I feel”. When I am punished out of jealousy by those I have labored to give all my love and service, I could imagine the pain in the heart of Madonna in these lines: “And as for fortune and as for fame, I never invited them in though it seemed to the world they were all I desire. They are illusions, they’re not the solutions they promise to be” (https://www.songtexte.com/songtext/madonna/dont-cry-for-me-argentina-7bd69ae4.html)! Only you can create happiness for yourself even when you sometimes look up to role models. You must never allow the behavior of a person no matter the rank and position determine who you are. The Psalmist is right that we must put no trust in princes, nor in a person, in whom there is no help.  Happy is the person who trust only in God (Psalm 146:3-5).

So many people in our world today are broken in body and mind! Their lives have been shattered into shreds because as young people, they looked up to their parents and relations. As adults, they looked up to their Superiors and Leaders. When the people you rely on for support as role models who could guide and guard you scandalize or fail you, remember these words of Jesus: “The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them” (Matthew 23:2-4). Ideally, the people we look up to are supposed to be doers of the word, and not hearers only (James 1:22). They ought to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:14) but when their actions blaspheme the name of God (Romans 2:20-24), we should remember that each one of us will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:12).

The essence of life is salvation. According to the Catholic Catechism, God made us to know him, love him, serve him in this world and to be happy with him in the next. For Christians, salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ. There is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). No matter the scandal in the world and no matter where it is coming from, we must “believe in the Lord Jesus” (Acts 16:31) who has no record of scandal. Jesus has saved us and called us to a holy life not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Timothy 1:19). We can trust God only who appreciates our human dignity. In him alone we can find rest since our salvation comes from him (Psalm 62: 1). Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved (Acts 2:21). When we are disappointed in those we put our trust, we must remember that evil people will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Make a difference by being a model whose action can bring people to God. Never allow anyone to encounter you and regret it. With your heart, you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved (Romans 10:10).

The problem with human beings is that many do not learn from experience. Otherwise, every human being would strive to be a saint given the awareness that no condition is permanent. A President today is not a president forever. A Superior today may be a servant tomorrow. There will come a time when no one will call you again especially when you are out of office. Worldly fame and riches pass away like shadows. This is why you must never fall and refuse to rise because of a person who thinks that he or she has all the powers in the world to break you. We are who we are and what we are by the grace of God. We must not oppress people and make their lives miserable when we are privileged to be in positions of authority. The grace of God that offers salvation to all people teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2: 11-12). We need faith and patience in challenging moments knowing that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

It is when we miss the authentic reason for our mission that we end up in a life of agony like a conquered slave who has no hope of freedom. In our various missions, the cross is not optional. If we unite all our sufferings, challenges and deprivations to the Crucified Jesus, we understand clearly the meaning of the narrow gate that leads to salvation and the gate that is wide and broad that leads to destruction. Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him in patience and perseverance (Hebrews 9:28). Our salvation thus has a dimension of personal relationship with Jesus just as Paul was not ashamed of the gospel which is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16) in all his sufferings in the hands of evil authorities. God demonstrated his own love for us while we were still sinners with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died for us (Romans 5:7-8).

In all the deprivations I have endured in life, I find the prophesy of Isaiah (chapter 53) about the suffering servant and Messiah very consoling and healing. The shortness of life and the absolute truth that this world is not a permanent home have been my inspiration to carry on in life. We must endure when we are despised and rejected like the man of sorrows who was familiar with suffering (Isaiah 53:3). Just imagine the faith and hope expressed by a secular musician, Robert S. Kelly who believed that he could fly no matter the situation. He says in the music: “I used to think that I could not go on. And life was nothing but an awful song. But now I know the meaning of true love. I am leaning on the everlasting arms. If I can see it, then I can do it. If I just believe it, there is nothing to it.” “I believe I can fly; I believe I can touch the sky…”

Kelly could have referred to secular love in his music but in our context, love is divine and immortal (1 Corinthians 13:13). We exist to love because “God is love” (1 John 4:8). When we are denied true love on earth, we must show the world that love exists and that we walk alone with God like a gallant hero. Akin to the footprints, the Lord keep saying to each one of us: “My precious child, I love you and would never leave you.  The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.” Do not give up because of the scandal from those who you look up to. Ignore the wrongs in the world and march gloriously into heaven where God is waiting for you. Make salvation your personal decision.

Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua ([email protected]; www.omonokhua.blogspot.com)