That All Be Saved

Jesus affirms in today’s gospel that salvation is impossible for men “but not for God: because everything is possible for God.” (Mk 10:17-30) This is the great hope of us all! Even the best of humankind, who might have given away everything including their lives for God, still cannot “earn” salvation. No number of points we can score, or medals win which can force God to admit us to eternal life. We are generously offered that out of love for each of us, despite, not because of, our flawed selves. Of course, we do have it in our power to reject the offer of salvation; that is our free will.

Each of us recognises the plight of the rich young man in today’s story, because we have all been there ourselves. Most of us want to do good, to be good, but we find ourselves repeatedly falling short of perfection. We do try, but like the young man, our circumstances, our worldly possessions and interests retard us.  Rightly we are sad; how are we to be saved?

From earliest days the Church has taught the possibility that all people are saved and, echoing today’s gospel, the Catechism (CC 1058, 1821) reminds us that, “The Church prays that no one should be lost”. Pope Saint John Paul II often taught the possibility of universal salvation, expressing the hope that all will be saved. If it is true that no one can save himself, it is also true that God 'desires all men to be saved' (1 Tim 2:4), and that “everything is possible for God.” (Mk 10:27). Joyfully we recall God’s awesome mercy and fathomless love for us. Against all the odds, our efforts are good enough for God. We struggle as best we can, and in so doing, we are assured, not that we will earn salvation, but that it will be given to us.

Deacon Mark Kelly