The Mystery of Sin and Salvation

2/1/2013

(Page 2 of 2)

them both to God in one body; in his own Person, he killed the hostility" (Ep 2:14-16).

Jesus of Nazareth, who is Peace, offered to human beings the vocation of peace: "Christ's peace must reign in your hearts, since as members of [his] Body you have been called to peace" (Col 3:15). The vocation of peace begins when a person is baptized: "All of you who have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with him. There does not exist among you Jew or Greek, slave or freeman, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus" (Ga 3:27-28).

In his book, City of God, Saint Augustine provides the reason for founding a new social order - a New People of God: "It was God's good pleasure, by means of this City [of God], to subdue the whole world, to bring it into the single society of a republic under law, and to bestow upon it a widespread and enduring peace."

As the new communal order for social living, the initial Christian community made a profound impression upon non-believing observers: "winning favor with all the people" (Ac 2:47). Non-Christians (Jews and pagans) were impressed because, among the followers of Jesus of Nazareth, "there was one heart and soul in all the company of believers; none of them called any of his possessions his own, everything was shared in common" (Ac 4:32).

The Fathers of Vatican Council II emphasized that this new social order of peaceful living is the will of God: [God] has . . . . willed to make men holy and save them, not as individuals without any bond or link between them, but rather to make them into a people who might acknowledge him and serve him in holiness" (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, no.9).

Despite the never-ending faults of human beings, and the ongoing failure of political and social institutions to establish lasting communities of peace, Jesus of Nazareth exhorts everyone not to despair or be discouraged: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me" (Jn 16:6).

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John D. Meehan has been involved in the lay apostolate of the Catholic Church since the close of the Second Vatican Council. He resides in New Hampshire with his lovely wife Elizabeth.
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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Year of Faith, Catechism of the Catholic Church, John Meehan, sin, redemption, Christ, Jesus, Catholic Church, Grace

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1 - 2 of 2 Comments

Howard12
1 week ago
@Ted We don't believe just baptism is necessary. We also believe we have to never commit a grave sin with full consent and knowledge. But if we do we can be forgiven in the sacrament of confession if we are truly sorry and resolve not to do it again.

We also believe what it says in the book of James, "Faith without works is dead." We act on our faith. Our good deeds (works) help show we have faith.
Ted
3 months ago
Very thought provoking article and yes the Roman Catholic Church is a vital instrument of evangelisation and the announcing of God's Kingdom. However the implication is that simply by action of a person in baptism etc, one is assured of salvation. I think there is more and that a conscious personal commitment to follow Jesus as Lord must precede any action on our part. I see no mention of one of the most used words in the canon, "love", the unequivocal love of our Lord for His people accompanied by His grace and mercy. What I see so often today are people who do the right things in terms of the Sacraments, rushing in and out of Mass for instance, leaving in the same condition as when they arrived, but seemingly lacking a full sense of our Lord's love, grace and mercy for them personally. Seemingly missing is a full sense of our Lord's living and healing presence in their lives. Do they really know Jesus and our Father? I commend to them a reading of John 16: 23 - 27 from our Lord's final discourses.

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