|
Speaking | Contact | About |
| Blog |
| Scripture |
| Prayer |
| Church Fathers |
| Apologetics |
| Ecumenism |
| Book Reviews |
12/14/2008
ReadingsIsaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
One of the truths of God’s plan of salvation is that He commonly works through individual people to effect His will. In the Old Testament, God most often speaks directly to one person – usually a prophet – to whom the responsibility is given to then preach His message to all God’s people. Moses was the intercessor of ancient Israel; the city of Nineveh was only reached by Jonah; even David, who enjoyed a close intimacy with the Lord, had to be told by the prophet Nathan of his sin. God works through one individual to bring about salvation to many.
Even when God speaks directly to a person He does not circumvent this paradigm completely. When Paul was confronted by the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, Christ told him to go to the city and wait to be told by another what he must do. Paul had to be received through another person to become a member of the Church. Then, of course, Paul became the instrument God used for the conversion of thousands.
When God sent His Son into this world, He continued to choose specific individuals to bring about salvation. Jesus did not suddenly appear out of nowhere: he was born to a consenting mother and raised by a man who agreed to this role. And when it was time for the public ministry of Jesus to begin, another man, John the Baptist, had to prepare his way. In fact, the Apostle John in his Gospel states, “A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.” (John 1:6-7, emphasis added). It is through John the Baptist that the world received Jesus and believed in him. The Baptist’s work was a necessary part of Christ’s mission. We see this immediately in the first chapter of John’s Gospel: Christ’s first apostles came from the ranks of John’s disciples, and all of John’s preaching is to prepare people for the coming of Christ.
God’s way of working in the world continues in the Church. One does not come to faith and salvation except through the work of other people: the Gospel is preached, baptism is given, the faith is taught, and the sacraments distributed by other sinful finite members of God’s Church. Each person’s faith in Christ is wholly dependent on the work of a multitude of people, some of whom the person might not even know. Jesus wills to work through the Church – as he told Paul on the road to Damascus, he is the Church (Acts 9:4). Every follower of Christ thus bears a great responsibility, and privilege, to bring Christ’s salvation to those around him: family members, friends, co-workers – each person one encounters. On the day of judgement, it will be a grand thing indeed to discover a multiple of people who say, “I came to a saving knowledge of Christ through you.”
| All Reflections |
|