Posted by The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Atilano Corcuera SVD – Divine Word Seminary Tagaytay
Wednesday 20th Week in Ordinary Time
At a bus station, while browsing over the movie schedule from the paper I was holding, a decent-looking gentleman sat beside me and, without any preamble, asked me, “Kapatid, ligtas ka na ba?” (Brother, are you saved?) Taken aback, I muttered, “Ha?”
To make a long story short, the man insisted that to be certain of one’s salvation, one had to join their church. He lined up one argument after another to convince me. When he finally ran out of words, I came in, “Brother, do you know what St. Paul wrote to the Philippians about salvation?” He said, “Therefore my dearest friends, continue working out your salvation with fear and trembling’ …” I said it in Tagalog, “Ipagpatuloy ang paggawa nang may takot at panginginig…” Stunned, the man did not expect my reply, using the bible. He simply glided away and sat with another man.
At times I also ask myself the same question; “I have left my family behind, I studied for so many years to become a priest, celebrated the sacraments for more than 40 years, helped people, etc.” Now the question: “Am I sure to be saved?” Who is sure? Aside from the Blessed Virgin Mary, there is one who was given a promise by no less than Jesus that he would be saved—a criminal who at the last moments of his life cried out, “Jesus, remember me…”
So here I am working “with fear and trembling” for my salvation all my life, and there was the thief who at the last hours was assured of salvation. Am I envious? “Are you envious because I am generous?” Jesus asks in today’s Gospel.
I am not envious, Lord; I am simply overwhelmed by your awesome generosity. And before your majesty, I say, “Be merciful to me, a sinner.”
