We should rejoice when we "suffer the distress of many trials" (1 Pt 1:6), if these trials will help us achieve "faith's goal, [our] salvation" (1 Pt 1:9). We should be quite willing to sell everything we have and give the proceeds to the poor (Mk 10:21), if this is the way the Lord wants us to work out our salvation (Phil 2:12). We should even be willing to die at a young age "lest wickedness pervert" our minds "or deceit beguile" our souls (Wis 4:11). We have only one goal in life: to be saved. We will lose everything to gain our salvation (Lk 9:24).

I invite and challenge you to pray to the Lord: "I accept salvation — no matter what it takes." By praying this prayer, you are:

• saying that you will sacrifice everything to be saved,
• trusting in the Lord,
• increasing the likelihood of more sufferings in your life,
• increasing the likelihood of more joy in your life (see Col 1:24),
• making your life more simple,
• making your life more counter-cultural, and you therefore are more likely to be persecuted, and
• expressing the ultimate freedom.

Jesus is our Savior. Only through His name can we be saved (Acts 4:12). This is the only meaning of life. Accept Jesus as your Savior.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 6, 2015

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