When the Homily is about Immunology

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine

My friend John just sent this to me. Along with it a wonderful link to "The Ancient Fathers of the Desert"

While this may seem a slam on evangelicals, it is not neccesarily so. I know I can apply it to my life even though I reject the notion of blessed assurance.

A present day monk tells the following beneficial story: I was once walking with a very pious and humble man, when we were stopped on the street by an old man distributing small pamphlets. The old man asked us, 'Are you saved? Have you accepted Jesus?'

My humble companion said, 'I only know that I am a sinner.'

The old man answered my friend: 'Jesus has saved me. I have the assurance of his salvation. I have conquered pride, lust, and sin. Praise God.'

At these words, my companion very abruptly grabbed me by the arm, saying to the old man, 'Leave us alone.' But as we walked my humble friend began to cry bitterly. Embarrassed that others were watching, he controlled himself.

'I asked him: 'Why are you crying like this?'

He quietly answered, 'As that man told us that, a strange voice in my mind translated his words, so that he said, "I have saved myself. I have assured myself. Pride, lust, and sin no longer bother me, for they have conquered me. God must praise me." The mere thought of his blasphemy and the state of his soul crushed me. God forgive us all.'