Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009

Deut. 7:17-26 Titus 3:1-15 John 1:43-51

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (Titus 3:4-8)

14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. (Titus 3:14)


Hi all, this will be my last post for at least a few days, except for the listing of the collect of the day and prayers for the week tomorrow. I'm going to Manresa a Jesuit retreat center on the Mississippi in Louisiana. The retreat follows the "Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola".
I'd appreciate your prayers.

Today's epistle has a similar passage to the one we looked at yesterday - a beautiful, concise recitation of God's goodness working in and through Jesus to save and change us. Here Paul is clear to say that when God's goodness and lovingkindness appeared he saved us - not because of our righteous works - but according to his mercy, by washing and renewal in the Holy Spirit through Jesus. As if he was not clear about that, he says it was "so that being justified by grace..."

But then he is insistent that while our salvation and justification and renewal was not by works, it was indeed for works. Yesterday we saw the terminology as "zealous for good works"; today it is in terms of devotion to good works. Then he comes back to it as the last thing, before his closing grace, in the epistle.

This is a good warning for one embracing or renewing spiritual disciplines (like a silent retreat!) as we have begun our lenten journey. As the destination of Lent is Easter, so the goal of my life is union with Christ, transformation into him image, so filled with the love of God that the love of God works not only in my heart, but through my life, my mouth, my hands, my actions, etc. The gospel, the goodness and lovingkindness of God, cannot and will not be contained. Ultimately and finally, it will work itself out, burst forth, spill over... to the whole creation.