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Thursday, June 3, 2004

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St. Charles Lwanga & Companions


2 Timothy 2:8-15
Psalm 25
Mark 12:28-34

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how he saves us

"Obtain the salvation to be found in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory." —2 Timothy 2:10

God wants all to be saved (1 Tm 2:4) from sin, death, Satan, hell and saved for perfect love and eternal life. We cannot save ourselves. Jesus alone can save us. We accept His grace of salvation by faith, usually expressed in works (see Eph 2:8-10). In this way, we work out and obtain our salvation (Phil 2:12).

Paul spelled out some of the details of accepting the grace of salvation by faith. He said: "You can depend on this" (2 Tm 2:11). First, we must die with Jesus by being baptized and living our Baptisms, as we repeatedly choose to die to ourselves (see 2 Tm 2:11; 2 Cor 4:10-11). Second, we must persevere in our faith in the Lord (2 Tm 2:12). Third, we should admit we are quite capable of denying Christ (see 2 Tm 2:12). Therefore, we need to accept the grace to overcome this temptation. Finally, we should focus on faithfulness (see 2 Tm 2:13) so that, on Judgment Day, the Lord will say to us the words: "Well done, good and faithful servants" (see Mt 25:21).

To understand and accept salvation, we must:

  • die with Jesus in Baptism,
  • persevere in total love for Jesus,
  • cry out for the grace not to deny Jesus, and
  • be faithful to Jesus.

"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and all your household" (Acts 16:31).

Prayer:  Father, may I live my life so as to lead to salvation as many people as possible (see 1 Cor 9:22).

Promise:  "Jesus replied: 'This is the first: "Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! Therefore you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is the second, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ' " —Mk 12:29-31

Praise:  St. Charles died as a martyr because he would not compromise his purity to save his life.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert A. Stricker, December 13, 2003


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 18, 2003