God’s Resounding “Yes”
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
II Cor 1:18-22
As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been “yes” and “no.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him. For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes to God through him for glory. But the one who gives us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God; he has also put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.
Grace Prayed For
This passage prompts us to pray for the grace to fully accept and internalize God’s unwavering “Yes” to us in Jesus Christ. We can pray for a deeper faith to trust in His promises and the courage to respond with a heartfelt “Amen” to His loving plan for our lives.
Reflection
Take a moment to quiet your soul and let these words from St. Paul wash over you. He speaks of a God who is not wishy-washy, a God whose promises are not a fickle “yes” and “no.” No, in Jesus Christ, the answer is always a resounding “YES.” This is not an abstract theological point; it is the very heartbeat of our salvation.
Think of all the promises God has ever made to humanity—promises of love, of mercy, of forgiveness, of eternal life. Each one finds its perfect fulfillment, its ultimate “Yes,” in the person of Jesus. He is the living embodiment of God’s faithfulness to you and to me. When you feel unworthy, when you doubt your own goodness, or when the world tells you that you are not enough, remember this: Jesus is God’s unwavering “Yes” to you.
And our response? Our response is the “Amen.” It’s a deeply personal, intimate word. It’s not just a word we say at the end of a prayer. It is the echo of God’s “Yes” in our own hearts. When we say “Amen,” we are not just agreeing with a statement; we are joining our voice to Christ’s, affirming God’s promises, and saying, “Yes, Lord, I believe it. Yes, Lord, I receive your love. Yes, Lord, I am yours.” This “Amen” is a love letter whispered back to the One who first loved us.
This intimate exchange—God’s “Yes” and our “Amen”—is the very essence of our life in the Trinity. God the Father makes the promise, God the Son fulfills it, and God the Holy Spirit, our “first installment,” is given to us as the seal of this covenant. The Holy Spirit is the tangible presence of this love, dwelling within us, assuring us that we are His, and empowering us to live out this truth. This is the love that has transformed my life, the love that has rescued me from the darkness and called me into His marvelous light. It is the love that makes me whole and gives my life meaning.
Announcing Jesus in Our Lives
As baptized Christians, we are called to be partners with Jesus in the restoration of creation. This mission is not limited to grand gestures; it is lived out in the quiet, ordinary moments of our day. We can evangelize by:
- Being an Instrument of Peace: In moments of conflict or disagreement, be the one who seeks understanding and offers a gentle word, reflecting the peace of Christ.
- Practicing Radical Listening: Listen to others not just to respond, but to truly hear their hearts, their joys, and their struggles. In doing so, we mirror the attentiveness of God.
- Offering a “Yes” to Others: Just as God gives us a “Yes,” we can be a source of encouragement and support to those around us. A simple compliment, a word of affirmation, or an offer of help can be a powerful witness to God’s love.
- Sharing Our Story: When the opportunity arises, humbly share how God’s “Yes” has impacted your life. It doesn’t need to be a formal sermon, but a simple testimony to the difference Jesus has made for you. In this way, we fulfill our Baptismal call, allowing our lives to become a living proclamation of the Gospel, partnering with Jesus to restore all of God’s creation one loving encounter at a time.
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Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post