HOW TO BE SAVED

XV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 10:25-37

The question about salvation is a question heard many times: Are you saved? Most Protestant Christians have a quick answer. We Catholics feel a bit of discomfort as if we do not know what to answer. Is it by faith alone? I believe, thus I am saved. Is it so simple and so easy? Saint James wrote clearly that “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24).

And why is it so? “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” To believe is not enough. “Even the demons believe — and shudder!” (James 2:17,19).

When we ask such a question, we must look for Jesus’ answer. Indeed, someone approached him with the same question: “Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Eternal life and salvation are interchangeable. We are saved when we have eternal life or when we enter the Kingdom of God. Until then we are in the process of being saved. Salvation is a process that one day will be brought to completion. We have been called. And with our calling, a promise of salvation comes. And God is always faithful to his promise. However, hearing the call, we must answer and the answer is revealed in our actions.

Time and again, Jesus demanded faith from people who approached him with requests for deliverance and demanded faith from those who became his disciples. However, in his answer to the lawyer, he did not mention faith, but compliance with the Law, keeping the commandments. And the commandments lead us on the way of life: love God and love your neighbour. If we ignore our neighbour, we ignore God and walk on the way that takes us to condemnation and perdition. Salvation is only possible when we enter a relationship of love with God and our neighbours.

The commandment given to the lawyer who asked the question is the commandment given to us: “Go, and do the same yourself.”