Devotion - Tuesday of Holy Week

I continually struggle with the issue of "merit."  In my first call, a member of the congregation had compiled a complete listing of all the passages in the Bible which spoke of "rewards."  She was insistent that "great would be the reward" for those who were faithful.  As time went by, I began to realize she did not consider me one in line for "great rewards."  We experienced God differently and spoke of the experience in ways which did not easily align.

An author by the name of Hans Urs von Balthasar wrote:  "The word 'merit' insofar as it concerns some value conferring a right to something, is theologically an unhappy term that would be better dropped."  He suggests that we make use of the biblical word which stands ready to replace it: fruitfulness.  God tells Abraham that he will make him "exceedingly fruitful."  In John the grain of wheat must die so that it can bear much fruit.  The vine-dresser prunes the vine in order that it might produce more fruit.

We do not merit God's salvation - it comes to us a result of Jesus death and resurrection.  We do not merit any reward - it is an outpouring of God's grace.  We do not merit our status as children of God - we are made heirs by the One who goes before.

As we conclude our Lenten pilgrimage and look back upon our disciplines we do so not in order to gauge our advancements but in order to see the fruit which we have be able to distribute along the way.  Our aim is not to obtain but to share and to provide.