In today’s liturgy we read Paul in 1 Corinthians.
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea,
and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ. Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert. These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did. Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall. 1 cor 10:1-6, 10-12
Paul draws the comparison between the disobediant Israelites under Moses to those present Christians in Corinth. God sent the Israelites a savior from their bondage in Egypt (Moses) as He would send the “new Moses” Christ Jesus to lead mankind from its bondage in sin. The Israelites passed through cloud (Spirit) and sea (water) just as we are now baptized. God provided real and spiritual food and drink for their sustenance, just as Jesus now provides His real body and blood which we eat and drink for our spiritual wellness. As the Israelites participated as a community, so do we.
Yet, with all that God had done for the Israelites, most fell into grumbling, idol-worshipping, and disobedience and were “struck down in the desert.” They did not complete the forty years wanderings to make it to the promised land.
Paul warns us that just like them, we may suffer (eternal) death, though we too have been chosen by God, saved through baptism of water and spirit, and have eaten and drunk from the communal cup. At any time, we may fall back into idolatrous behavior, in other words, Sin!
The doctrine of Once Saved, Always Saved is a false assurance. Though God fills our lives with blessings and provides the grace necessary to sustain and save us, at any time any of us might fall into temptation, a fall that may take us away from salvation, just as the Israelites – for whom God sent Moses, performed miraculous deeds and parted the sea – were eventually struck down in the desert.
In today’s Gospel (Luke 13:1-9) , we see that the owner of the fig tree is disgusted that so much time has passed, yet his tree has not born fruit. Why should he not cut it down? But the vine dresser offers to provide a year’s worth of extra nurturing. One more chance for the fig tree to show its worth and do credit to the owner.
God is patient with us as we find our way to Him…and back to Him. But remember that despite His infinite patience, a time will come when we will be called to account and on that day, we will pass the test, or we will be cut down. Some people might think this is unfair. Why? hasn’t God provided Jesus Christ for our salvation? the words of life in the Gospels and in the other books of the Scripture? the apostolic priesthood to be reconciled to Him and from which to receive the sacraments? the holy Church to teach and guide us? grace to sustain us? the Holy Spirit to lead us? Some say a loving God would not abandon us because of our sinful ways, because we are doomed to fall to temptation. I say, our God loves us as any good father does, and therefore, expects us to do our best.
If today you observe yourself and you are doing the modern equivalent of dancing around a golden calf, then today is the day to repent.
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