15 July 2008
More Luther on the Gospel for Trinity 9
For whatever good we do here for needy people, showing them friendship and kindness, these very deeds will on Judgment Day not merely bear witness to the fact that we have conducted ourselves in a brotherly and Christian fashion, but will have their own reward. - House Postil II:360
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
What will this reward be?
The joyous company of the saints who surround you, and the presence of the Lord, whom you served when you were serving the least of His brothers. He goes on to talk about this crowd surrounding us with the saints and angels and welcoming us into the eternal habitations.
So if you do more of the good works than I do, will you get to meet more saints and angels, or what? Be in the Lord's presence more often? (That's assuming we both make it!)
I think the point is rather that you may very well have more people who come up to you, thanking you for the love received - many of whom, of course, you may not even recall helping! - than I. But in the light of that place, we will all be rejoicing together in the boundless mercy that found us when we were lost and alone and brought us into a family where we can never lose one another again. In that place, I won't be jealous that you have more saints welcoming you home, but having passed through the fire of His divine love, I'll be rejoicing as they all surround you, and I'll be one of those thanking you for the kindness and love you've shown me along the days of our earthly pilgrimage.
Post a Comment