Belief, Baptism, & Salvation

Gospel Reflection for The 25th day of January in the year of Our Lord, 2024

Gospel

Mark 16:15-18

15 And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues. 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.

How simple, “Whoever believeth and is Baptized will be saved.” Many Protestants, and far too many Catholics believe that Baptism is only symbolic. I was even told once that Rev. Billy Graham advised members of his family not to be Baptized because he believed that faith was all that was necessary for salvation. I hope that is not true. Why won’t Christians just do what Jesus said? This is something I cannot understand. He said to believe, be Baptized, repent of sins, receive Him in the Eucharist, follow His commandments and be a part of His Church.

To live in this way is not difficult. Why would anyone risk eternal damnation by not doing such simple things? The answer is as obvious as it is ridiculous; it is pride. Pride, the true original sin of Satan and man, tells us that we know best. “Pride goeth before the fall.” This is the obvious reason that our Lord told us to be humble and obedient like children. As I say so many times, just do what Jesus said. Either He is God or He is not. If He is God, all He said is true. Faith is actually a very simple thing, and it begins by accepting that obvious statement.

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Judson Carroll is the author of several books, including his newest, A Daily Catholic Devotional Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings January-June, 2024. It is Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPD1DC7Q

and

Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith. It is also Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK

His new podcast is The Uncensored Catholic https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-uncensored-catholic