12th Sunday after Pentecost 28 Aug 2022 Sermon

 12^th Sunday after Pentecost 28 August 2022 Stages of Salvation

 God provides for His people, in the first place creating us, then sustaining us in His grace and mercy, letting us go on living when we have offended Him so much; still seeking to save us despite our collective ingratitude and obstinacy.

He finds us lying on the side of the road, like the man in the parable. The devil has robbed us of our rightful inheritance as children of God and now God Himself seeks to restore what has been lost.

God proves Himself to be a neighbour to the one in need. He helps those in need - which is everyone - or at least offers help.

He saves us from whatever our problem is. There are many levels of salvation.

The most pressing need is that we be saved from eternal death, going to hell.

He saves us also from sin, which is a wrongful use of the will, made more likely through the effects of previous sins; and living in a world which ignores or denies God.

Then there is temporal death, and other misfortunes in the physical domain. He helps with these too, though complete freedom from this suffering is not possible.

Still He does save us at this level too, and more so if we ask for it in prayer. They brought to Him many and He cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick (Mt 8, 16-17).

Some would blame God for allowing so many troubles to come upon us, asking why - if He loves us so much - does He not make it easier for us by clearing away all the difficulties?

He is building us up:  Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (Jm 1,2-3)

He lifts us up, as for the man on the side of the road. That is the first stage of salvation. Then He helps us to live the right way, the second stage.

If we do not try the second stage the first stage will not help much. It is good to be free from hunger and disease etc, but at some point we have to address the spiritual dimension – why am I here? It is to know, love and serve God.

God wants us to help each other. This is good for both the one helping and the one helped. One has his needs met, the other has the chance to grow in grace..

We gladly give material aid when we can. This will kindle our compassion and generosity towards others and that will be a catalyst for other spiritual growth in us.

Spiritual aid is better still because it carries greater benefits. Whenever we can we evangelise, catechise, encourage, admonish – we help each other to come to the full dimension of salvation.

The greatest favour we can do others is to help connect them to God.

Some will say that we should not attempt to change someone else’s religious views. But the truth shall set you free (Jn 8,32). We never force, only offer the truth.

All of this comes under the broad heading of salvation, being set free from whatever afflicts us.

We hope to go to Heaven, which is the fullest expression of salvation, but before that to achieve the interior transformation we all need. We seek purification of all trace of sin, and a general clean out of the inside where the passions are found - in heart and mind.

The more we discover the goodness of God, the more we connect with Him, the more ‘saved’ we are, the more glory we can hope for in heaven, and the more useful we will be to our various ‘neighbours’.