Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-97) - Who then can be saved?

Dearest Goddaughter,

In the similar way that Jesus does not back down in his discourse on the Bread of Life (John, Chapter 6), Christ does not "water down" what we need to do to be saved. Yes, we much follow the commandments of God; however, even more than that, we must love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our mind, and with all our soul. This also includes our own parents, children, siblings, and friends, as Jesus tells us in today's Gospel: ". . .everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."

This is certainly a radical call to discipleship that we can find difficult to understand much less follow. However, this is why Jesus also said, "For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible." With God's help, we can order our lives in a way that Jesus is at the center of our lives and everything else flows from that loving, intimate relationship with our Lord. This is how we should order our lives because with our focus firmly on Christ first and foremost, then all our other relationships and everything we do will have true meaning.

This is why, as Jesus says, it is "easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a need" then for us to enter the kingdom of God; However, like the saints before us, we must not be discouraged or become despondent, but turn to God and trust in Him. He will leave us on the right path to salvation and, if we love and trust Him above all, then we will leave others to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and heaven.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: Ez 28:1-10 and Mt 19:23-30 (see below).

. . .

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich

to enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Again I say to you,

it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle

than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,

"Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them and said,

"For men this is impossible,

but for God all things are possible."

Then Peter said to him in reply,

"We have given up everything and followed you.

What will there be for us?"

Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you

that you who have followed me, in the new age,

when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,

will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,

judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters

or father or mother or children or lands

for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,

and will inherit eternal life.

But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."