If we are workers our Gospel should be very upsetting to us. It would be unfair to say that we could work a full day's work and receive a wage equal to somebody who worked less then us. This scenario is very much so unfair, but thankfully our salvation does not work in the same manner. If our salvation dealt with staying faithful from the point of our baptism to the point of our death all of us would be in a lot of trouble. There is none of us here who can claim that they have worked a full day's wage concerning their worthiness for salvation. From our Holy Father, Francis, "We are all sinners." At some point we have gotten off the path, but hopefully when this happens we quickly reorient ourself to the mercy of God. The lives of the Saints attest to this because when we study the saints we will see many different people with many different stories. Some have radiated God by their life from their childhood, others as adults, and even others before the point of death. Some were grave sinners while others did not sin to such a degree.
Nevertheless, what they all hold in common will hopefully be equal to what we will obtain one day which is the grace of final perseverance. Final perseverance is the grace that is necessary for us to obtain salvation. It means that we will die while in the state of grace. It means that if we have committed a mortal sin that we would of confessed it, turned away from it, and never went back again. One cannot claim that they have achieved the grace of final perseverance if they have died in the state of mortal sin. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1035: "Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, "eternal fire." The Council of Trent holds that the grace of final perseverance has one origin which is from God Himself. The same council held that it is an error to believe that one can achieve this grace without the help of God. God is most necessary because we cannot obtain final perseverance due to our own merit.
If we truly desire to achieve the grace of final perseverance may we prevail ourself to God who is the only one who can grant such a grace. May we realize that there is never a point when we are unable to surrender ourself to the mercy of God and thus to be moved towards authentic conversion. Saint Alphonsus gives us the example that we need to fervently pray for such a grace to be materialized inside of our life. At the conclusion of every prayer that Saint Alphonsus offered he would include a petition where he would ask God for this grace to be achieved within his life. Saint Alponsus found this grace to be so important concerning our salvation that he would remark: "All those who are in heaven are there for this one reason: They prayed, they asked for perseverance. All those who are in hell are there for this one reason: They did not pray and they did not ask the Lord for the grace of final perseverance." May we to desire the just wage of salvation by praying that we may achieve such an important grace and also be willing to amend our life to match such a desire.
Thankfully our Gospel message sounds unfair to our ears. Thankfully all of us can pray for the grace of final perseverance and thus when we die we to can be found worthy to enter into the Heavenly Kingdom. Some of us here have worked fervently in the Harvest of the Lord since their childhood, others have worked fervently since having a conversion experience, others began to work fervently due to their desire to get their children to Heaven, others begin to work fervently in this harvest at the moment before they take their last breath on this earth, and still others have yet to find such a wondrous path that leads towards salvation. May we not continue to run from the just wage of salvation, but instead move ourself towards it. May we not become so prideful that we believe that we are owed such a wondrous wage without the help of God. May we truly pray that we can achieve final perseverance at the moment before our life ends.
In conclusion may we listen to this prayer offered by Saint Alphonsus for the grace of final perseverance and thus allow his words to penetrate into our heart that we may truly desire to achieve this wondrous grace.
Eternal Father, I Humbly Adore and Thank You, for having Created me, and for having Redeemed me. I Thank You for having made me a Christian, by giving me the True Faith, and for Adopting me as Your Child in Baptism. I Thank You for having given me Time-to Repent, after my many Sins, and for having Pardoned all my Offenses. I Renew my Sorrow for them, because I have Displeased You. I Thank You also for having Preserved me from Falling-again, as I would have done, if You had not Held me up, and Saved me. But my Enemies, do not cease Fighting-against me, nor will they, until I Die. If You do not Help me Continually, I will Lose Your Grace again. I, therefore, Pray-for Perseverance till Death. Your Son Jesus, has Promised that You will give us whatever we Ask-for in His Name. By the Merits-of Jesus Christ, I beg You, for myself and for all those who are in Your Grace, the Grace-of Never-more being Separated-from Your Love. May we always Love You in this Life, and in the Next.
Mary, Mother of God, Pray to Jesus for me. So I Hope. So may it be.
Amen.
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