Who is Our Savior?

If you read this the same day I write it, Good Friday, the answer to the question in the title, “Who is Our Savior?” might seem obvious. However, there are people who don’t go for the Christian answer.

There are people who make themselves their own savior. They are only looking out for themselves. They think there is no else is looking out for them. They think everything depends on them.

There are people who think the government is supposed to fix everything. Certainly, the primary role of government is to care for the needs of the people within its boundaries. However, that doesn’t mean that we can live however we want and expect the government to bail us out. We need to do our part. I think there are people in government who see themselves as the “savior”. They think they can take care of everything if everyone else would just let them have their way.

Of course, the Christian answer to “Who is Our Savior?” is Jesus Christ. He came into this world (the Incarnation) to be our Savior. While on Earth Jesus did many miracles. He taught us how to live as God’s children. He brings us salvation when He gives his life for us on the Cross. It is through his sacrificing his life on the Cross that we are saved, saved from our sins.

It was not an easy thing for him to do. I think of phrases in today’s (Good Friday) first reading from Isaiah 52:13-53:12). This is the fourth of four Suffering Servant oracles in Isaiah. It speaks of the suffering servant as one who was marred “beyond human semblance.” “He was spurned and avoided by people, a man of suffering.” Why? Isaiah tells us that “it was our infirmities he bore…he was pierced for our offenses.” Jesus himself “had done no wrong.” Jesus suffered to “to take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.“

Jesus suffered for us. Jesus is our Savior.

Does that mean we can do whatever we want and just expect that Jesus will save us? Ultimately, we cannot save ourselves. We need Jesus but we must do our part. Otherwise, we don’t really open ourselves to letting Jesus save us. We need to do the best we can but then to leave it in God’s hands. For example, when we sin, we need to repent but we shouldn’t wait till we stop sinning. We can’t stop on our own. We need to seek forgiveness through Jesus and count on God to help us resist sin.

What about the government? Do they have a role to play in our salvation? Spiritually, the government’s place to help us is to ensure we have freedom of religion so that we can live according to our beliefs.

However, that doesn’t let the government off the hook in earthly activities. The government exists to serve the needs of the people. Each individual needs to do their part but sometimes that isn’t enough. Then, the government has the responsibility and duty to help. However, the government is not our savior. Jesus is.

We need to do what we can. For instance, in regards to the Coronavirus, as individuals, we need to practice good social distancing. It makes sense. God gave us brains to use our reason to make good choices.

However, we can’t do everything ourselves to protect everyone from the Coronavirus. The government must do its part to make sure earthly help is directed where it is most needed.

Still, the government can’t do everything. We place it in God’s hands. We pray for the healthcare workers who risk their own health to help those sick with the Coronavirus. We pray for the government officials to make wise decisions. We pray those at the stores who are in public all day long with potential exposure to the virus so that we can have what we need.

Still, all the human effort is not always enough. So, we turn to God to save us. God walks with us in this challenging time. God loves. Jesus is our Savior.

Thanks be to God.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff