Salvation to Those Who Eagerly Await Him January 22

Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory… (Psalm 98:1)

…now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice...to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him. (Heb 9:26, 28)

And if house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. (Mark 3:25-26)

Piety

My Lord, my Brother, My Saviour. Thank you for the wondrous deeds you have accomplished for me. Let me repeatedly return to you with a song in my heart for without You I remain divided. My nature, like that of your chosen high priests, must repeatedly enter into the sanctuary having been distracted by both the wonderful and sinful in our lives. Today, I ask you, let your unique, solitary and universal sacrifice bring me to you. Help me turn away and disengage from anything distracting. Help me face always to You.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/012207.shtml

The ancient rites of sacrifice required blood to close – the importance, the sacredness of the oath was reflected in the use of the symbol of life. It became effective upon the death of the testator (much like our last will and testaments today). Humans, whether in secular business or in religious rite sign the documents for each sole instance or perform the ritual again and again to bind, praise, teach, remind ourselves of meaning. As Paul so beautifully tells us, the perfect blood of the Son sealed and transformed the ancient covenant once and for all. His return will be …to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him (Heb 9:28).

Our need to turn again and again to Him is a privilege a joy rather than a mandatory and tedious chore. Jesus has already offered us a place in the covenant; our salvation promised if we eagerly await. Because we are often governed by our very human nature – awesome and troublesome – He alone can unite us within Himself. With our reliance on His effort we are safeguarded: no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. (Mark 3:27) We can place Jesus, the strong man, into our hearts to protect our (God’s) property from any assault. Needing to turn again and again to Him, we can do so with jubilant song in our hearts rather than as if we must perform a mournful duty or feel depressed at our continued shortcoming.

Early in his role as civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King was considering withdrawing from the cause because of death threats against him. In fear and despair he prayed, deciding to turn over the problem to God. In his book Stride Toward Freedom he described the experience of a quiet, strong, Divine voice telling him to stand up for freedom and not fear. He had renewed unity with Jesus.

God gives us all we need. Our God …has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice (Ps 98: 2). God is on our side though thick and thin. Our God revels in relationship with us. Revel in God’s help and promise to you.

Action

What distractions keep us from unity with Jesus, unity within ourselves? Is the career ladder, our good name, an enlarging stock portfolio, a teenager’s attitude, ill health, fear, zealous patriotism distracting us? Step back into the tabernacle and renew unity with Jesus. Share resources and love with someone who needs it: a struggling parish in New Orleans (such at St. Peter Claver, St. Philip St.) or your sister parish in another country. Pray that in reducing your distractions and renewing your unity with Jesus, those with whom you share might also be renewed and reunited.