Standing in the Gospel and Holding it Fast

 Reflection on Today's Reading, 24th Week in Ordinary Time Year II,  Thursday, 17th September, 2020

St. Paul shows us today the path to Salvation: standing in the gospel and holding fast to it. He says, "I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved". Standing in the gospel simply means having faith in it. Hence, Jesus, in today's gospel, says, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Holding the gospel fast means not wavering in our faith in the gospel and also in living it out. The wise tells us what it means to hold the gospel fast: "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be secured " (Prov. 4:25-26). Jesus Christ also says, "Your perseverance will win you your lives" (Luke 21:19). Holding the gospel fast is as important as having faith in it. Holding fast to the gospel simply means keeping the faith. Our faith must be kept burning; it is such a faith that saves. Having faith justifies us while keeping the faith brings the salvation to completion. When we are justified we are saved from sin. That is the kind of salvation the woman in the gospel received. When we are saved from sin, we begin to strain forward to eternal salvation. Hence, St. Paul says, "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14).

When we are saved from sin, we continue to keep the faith by which we are saved, so that eternal reward we be ours.

Dear friends, let not lose our faith, but hold it fast that we might gain its eternal reward, the heavenly inheritance kept safe by the power of God through faith until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the final point of time (1Pet. 1:4-5). Let us not relax, therefore, in our good works and freedom from sin.

Lord Jesus, we surrender ourselves to you, keep us always standing in the gospel and holding it fast. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke