Soul Killer
Who or what can kill your soul?
“A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” - Matt. 10:24-33,40-42
Jesus offers a lot in today's Gospel reading, advising us to be good disciples and to live in faith without fear.
But what strikes me this morning as I read this is the concept of a soul killer.
Each of us, according to Jesus, is known by the Father. We are loved and cared for, thought about and wanted.
Our souls are connected through the Spirit to God and to one another, so to kill the soul is a tough act.
One needs to offer it up, to abandon it to have it separate from us and from God in order for it to die.
Mortal death is scary, but if we truly believe in eternal life, it shouldn't be as scary as losing our soul.
I remember stories about selling one's soul to the devil to gain wealth and fame, and if I do a Google search now, I will find numerous accounts of posts on social media claiming that some stars have done this.
How sad.
We have turned such a serious faith statement into a slam against anyone we feel is doing bad things for personal gain.
What matters, though, is how we truly feel within. Are we self-assured in our faith? Do we have hope and confidence that God will stay with us through it all, whatever it all is?
I hope so. What would our final days be like if we didn't believe?
We would spend each in fear, and that isn't my cup of tea.
More to come...