salvation – The Anchorite

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Luke 13:22-30

Salvation.

The Bible is filled with many images that seek to portray salvation in some way. The return from exile. The coming of the Kingdom of God. The wedding feast of the Lamb. A new creation. The new Jerusalem. Salvation involves being purged – freed – healed of the effects of sin so that we can become all that the Lord intends us to be. We can then rejoice together with Him forever. Salvation begins whenever we first say yes to the Lord’s invitation to believe and repent, and reaches its fulfillment beyond this life in an everlasting feast of love with the Lord.

It’s a wonderful vision! Yet, we notice that not everyone appears to say yes to this vision. We have our own struggles, temptations and sins even as we strive to follow the Lord. Our faith speaks to us of heaven (another name for the new Jerusalem or the wedding feast of the Lamb) and hell (I’ll save purgatory for a post of its own.) Throughout the centuries, artists of all kinds have presented us with their interpretations of heaven and hell, leaving us with various images etched into our memories. Continue reading “How Many Will Be Saved?”

Fourth Sunday of Easter (B) Acts 4:8-12

“There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” – Acts 4:12

Does that quote bother you?

If so, you are not alone. Our contemporary American society puts a high value on diversity. We love options and alternatives. We esteem the varied cultural backgrounds of our citizens. We like to think that there are many ways to accomplish something. We value diversity more, perhaps, than previous generations did. However, its flip side is also true: we have a hard time with commitment, with sticking with only one thing: be it a job or a relationship. Even when we make a commitment with the intention of keeping it, we are looking for as much wiggle room as possible. We hate getting “locked in”, as a rule. Most people don’t like putting all their eggs in one, and only one, basket. Continue reading “No Other Name?”