Stairway to Heaven

[humble soul]

Great song by the way. I can almost play it on guitar. A fave of fingerstylers.
Catholics are often criticised for thinking they can earn their way to Heaven. . My brother worked on missions in poor countries for 2 years. Earning a pittance. A wicked thought occurred to me that he was building his resume for Heaven. Not to mention his status growing in our family as a truly selfless Catholic. The benchmark for the rest of us.
Call it ingrained, but I grew up on the idea that a good moral life is the yellow brick road to Heaven. That we do have to be in the good books with God. Not that I've reached the level of my benchmark brother. Mind you, I've never liked this brother's unpredictable temper. Still I have to respect his work ethic. Or is that "works" ethic?
I still think I have to change in order to please God. Jesus sets this high benchmark in the Gospels that we never reach. Sometimes I think the standard required turns some of us off and we go the other way. Seems like a hard taskmaster.
"I'm not tough enough for your high standards. Find someone else".
I still have this vague dream of becoming President of a Catholic Charity, volunteering, and therefore saving my soul.
Such are the simplistic childish notions we carry in our mixed up minds.

 

[humble soul]

This must be amusing for non Catholic Christians to read. Because it's a completely different paradigm. And the self sufficiency notion ridiculous.
God's grace. God's grace. I hear you say. It's not about you. It about Him.
I concede this point you make, makes your saved paradigm more attractive.
Ok....where do I sign up? ?

 

[Couppy]

I still think I have to change in order to please God. Jesus sets this high benchmark in the Gospels that we never reach. Sometimes I think the standard required turns some of us off and we go the other way. Seems like a hard taskmaster.
"I'm not tough enough for your high standards. Find someone else".
I still have this vague dream of becoming President of a Catholic Charity, volunteering, and therefore saving my soul.
Such are the simplistic childish notions we carry in our mixed up minds.

That is what grace is all about. If we were to work very hard to reach the high benchmark set by Jesus, we could as well try walking by the law given to Moses. I am glad we are not saved by our works, otherwise Jesus will never look at me twice.

 

[humble soul]

otherwise Jesus will never look at me twice.

Don't you do any good deeds?

 

[Couppy]

Don't you do any good deeds?

Nothing worth boasting to God about to earn salvation.

 

[humble soul]

Nothing worth boasting to God about to earn salvation.

You can boast to me. I won't tell anyone.