God, Our Salvation, Carries Us

 May 22, 2012

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

By Beth DeCristofaro

(Paul said to them) I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me… Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course
and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace   (Acts 20:19, 24)

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come.  Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.  Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. (John 17:1-3)

Piety

Blessed be the Lord day by day,

God, our salvation, who carries us.

Our God is a God who saves;

Escape from death is the LORD God’s.

            Psalm 68:20-21

Study

Paul’s life, before his conversion, was as a rising star in the leadership of the Jewish people.  And, as a Roman citizen, he was doubly of the power-elite in the community and the temple.  He was a force to be reckoned with, a man who knew his place within the Chosen People of God.

At least, in human terms he knew.  But his knowledge was so limited.

Then God truly entered his life.  After he personally met God and recognized Jesus as man, God and Saviour, his life was no longer his own and yet at the same time he – Paul – was more alive than before.  After his conversion he lived life with God as the center of his life not power. 

Rather than yielding decisions and holding office among the rich and famous, Paul now reckoned his accomplishments as God centered humility:  (Paul) did not at all shrink from telling…what was for your benefit;  (Paul) bore witness…to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus; (He knew) that imprisonment and hardships await (him).  Paul went, compelled by the Spirit and absolutely certain that God was his salvation, that God carried him.

Action

St. Paul is our Cursillo Patron.  What of Paul’s tasks might you take on to offer to others the knowledge of Jesus Christ?  How will people with whom you interact know that you believe that God, our Salvation, Carries Us?