Salvation

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Salvation

One    Another

Live   Love   Abide

Remain In My Love

Chose

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 15: 9 and 16

"As God the Father loves me, so I love you.

Remain in my love.

It was not you who chose me.

I chose you.

I have appointed you to go and bear much fruit. 

That fruit will remain.

If you ask the Father for something in My Name, the Father will give it to you."

Reflection

We sometimes wonder exactly what salvation is and how we achieve it.

The author of John gives us some good insights about this in a section of his gospel called the Farewell Discourse of Jesus. He is saying goodbye; but He is also giving His apostles some important instruction.

Jesus points out that if we want to be saved, we need to remain in the Love of Jesus. In the midst of the many distractions we face every day, it is important for us to remember that Jesus is always with us. 

It is so easy for us to forget this. We need to make a living and meet the demands of our employer. We face deadlines in our work. As students we have exams to take and papers to do. We come home and have to cook and clean.

 It can all be overwhelming, and we can sometimes wonder exactly where Jesus is in all of this and where our path to salvation can be found. 

As Jesus reminds us, we are loved with the same love that God the Father has for Him. In all of the challenges that we face each day, Jesus is there with us in each and every one of them. He is loving us through all of them.

Jesus teaches us that we are saved because He has chosen us. Sometimes we get this all wrong. We think that we have chosen Jesus. Jesus straightens us out: He has chosen us!

We are saved through the Love of Jesus. He has chosen us to be with Him forever. Our challenge is to remain in that Love, especially on those days when we do not feel like we are the least bit loveable!

If we remain in that Love, we can bear much fruit because we can spread that Love to each person we meet. We can let those who feel neglected, unheard, spurned, and ignored know that they are loved. We can spread the Good News.

Salvation has come.

We have been chosen.

We are loved!

1. What is your definition of salvation?

2. How do you think you will achieve salvation?

3. How do you try to remain in Jesus?

4. Why has Jesus chosen you?

5. As you reflect on your life, what are some of the fruits that you have borne?

6. What do you see as you reflect on Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)