I like camping like the next guy, but some people like it a little too much (at least as far as I am concerned).  I was talking with a parishioner the other day and they were telling me that they were going camping this coming weekend; one of the busiest camping weekends of the year.  The campground they are going to fills up very quickly and they do not take reservations so it is first come first serve.  You have to get there early and take your chances.  This person then told me that some people had there campers at the campground last Sunday and left them there all week to ensure they had a spot.  But the thing is they had to pay for the spot all week…and they are not even using it.  They just wanted to place their stake on their camping spot and then live a worry free life all week long knowing their spot was reserved.

Isn’t that how many Christians live now days.  They feel that since their place in heaven is assured that they can go on living a worry free life; living how they want saying "God will forgive me".  But is that what God wants?  Paul in his letter to the Romans asks, "Should I go on sinning so that grace may abound?  Certainly not." (Romans 6:1) That is not the point of the Gospel.  The cross is not some "get out of jail free card".  The cross is not some insurance policy to tuck away for a rainy day.  The cross means life and salvation.  It means forgiveness for the penitent and repentant heart.  If you believe in your heart that you are saved then good works are going to follow.  Don’t look at the cross as a magical shield against death, but see it as a point of proclamation.  See it as a promise.  See it as a source of strength against the struggles of the world.  See the cross as a place where Jesus gave his all for us.  And with that, why would we not want to serve him through serving and loving others?  Why would we want to just sit back knowing others need to hear this message?  That does not make sense to me.  Live as if you are thankful for you have a lot to be thankful for.  Praise be to God and Amen!