Diocese of Toledo, Ohio

Browsing From the Pastor

December 18th/19th Bulletin Article

Dear Friends,

            As we approach Christmas, we recall last week’s bulletin column: God sent His Son to rescue us from the powers of darkness, from the powers of sin, death, and the devil. God sent His Son to rescue us from the slavery in which humanity had lived since the time of the Fall. God sent His Son because there was nothing we could do in order to free ourselves; there was nothing we could do in our fallen state to heal and mend ourselves. This divine rescue mission commenced as a covert mission: in poverty, in humility, and in quiet. The Son of God was born to common parents by the measure of the world, and He, our Lord Jesus Christ, consummated His mission on the Cross. Jesus emerged victorious over our enemies with His Resurrection from the dead.

            We have asked questions in each of these last few bulletin columns, and now another question remains: What is our response to what God has done for us? God gave us His only-begotten Son, who in turn gave His life so that we may be rescued, saved, and set free. We can’t simply sit back and do nothing. There must be some sort of response.

            Our first response must be worship, which we give to God at Mass. This is a matter of justice, giving to God what is due to Him: our worship, showing God honor, reverence, and devotion. I sometimes rail against false idols—sports, money, status, prestige, pleasure, sex, and many more—and it is worthwhile to keep this quotation in mind from Tim Keller: “What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give...If anything becomes more fundamental than God to your happiness, meaning in life, and identity, then it is an idol.” No one and nothing is worthy nor deserves the honor, reverence, and devotion which God deserves. God’s splendor, majesty, beauty, and goodness are beyond all telling; no one and nothing compares to God.

            Our second response must be praise and thanksgiving. We praise and thank God for what He has done and accomplished for us. As Chris Stefanick recommends in the Living Joy course, let’s make thanking God the first thing we do every day.

            Our third response is surrender—surrendering to God. We can think of surrender in this way: placing our trust in God, entrusting our lives to God. It can begin by asking the question, “What does God want from me?” Surrender involves every area of our lives, not just in terms of prayer and the religious and spiritual aspects. In every facet and aspect of our lives, we should surrender to God and ask what He wants from us.

            Our fourth response is to participate in the rescue mission. Remember the quotation last week from C.S. Lewis, in which he states that God invites us to join Him in His mission of sabotage against our enemies. Our Lord Jesus Christ has emerged victorious, but the fighting is not yet over. The devil wants to take as many people down with him before the end of the world, and so we are invited to join God in rescuing as many as possible. Rescued people rescue others. Another way to put it: we are poor beggars who have found food, and we are telling other beggars where to find that food. How we do participate in God’s rescue mission? Making known to others what He has done for us, proclaiming the Gospel, the Good News to others.

            We could simplify the Good News to four words: Created, Captured, Rescued, Response. God created us out of love to share in His life. We were captured and fell into slavery to sin and the devil. God rescued us in a most marvelous way, and we respond to what He has done for us.

            We are saints under construction, participating in God’s campaign of sabotage against our enemies. Have a great week!

In Christ,
Fr. Matt

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