There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved."
Recently I read a complaint against the Church by a well-known atheist. Invited to speak of his point of view by Dominican monks, Albert Camus reminded them of the failure of millions of Christians to act like Christians.
It is, of course, a familiar complaint. Somewhere in our Liturgy of the Hours -- I believe it appears soon after Easter -- an anonymous second-century preacher declared that the entire world would be Christian by now if only believers acted as if they believed!
We might reply that the entire world would be Jewish now if Jews were as faithful as Abraham and Moses.
But there you are; deal with it.
Reflecting on the unbeliever's remarks, I have to notice how far removed our convictions are from his. While we agree that the world is troubled by pernicious and persistent evil, and that it doesn't have to be this way; Christians declare that the creating God loves us -- and each of us and all of us -- intensely. The atheist denies the existence of God, creating or otherwise, loving or hateful.
But we press on: seeing our plight our creative, loving God has sent as our Savior His only begotten son, who is the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. This singular man was born of a virgin at a particular moment in history, at a particular place, and among a peculiar people. They had been prepared for that moment over many centuries; and Mary was the singularly innocent flower of that ancient blossoming tree; she alone was worthy to be the fellow's mother.
However, the vast majority of his people did not recognize or own him, but conspired against him with their Roman oppressors to have him silenced, suppressed, and destroyed.
But He rose from the dead and commissioned His disciples to go throughout the world -- some might say "the Universe!" -- announcing the astonishing and incredible Good News that He has destroyed sickness, disease, and death forever. (Although sickness, disease, and death persist.)
Furthermore, this One-God-in-Three is not surprised that the redeemed consistently fail to reflect their happiness and practice the merciful generosity they claim to have found in their Redeemer. Rather, He forgives them and recommissions them whenever they return to him.
Plus, they have a very hard time agreeing on what God has done through Jesus Christ, and sometimes get downright testy about what it means.
Oh, BTW, he wants us to eat his flesh and drink his blood at least once a week! And, if we marry, to stay married until death do you part. Welcome unborn babies and do not arbitrarily restrict your ability to have them. Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. And practice Charity toward everyone. Which, for the most part, we don't do.
We believe all this on the Word of God, without any -- or many -- other signs of his omnipotence. That is, "on faith." (As in,) "Trust me!"
And we expect everyone to see the reasonableness of our faith and come flocking into the happy Communion of the Saints. But if they don't there'll be hell to pay.
But we can't understand why atheists don't see it our way!
On this Friday of Easter Week we thank God for bringing us -- undeserving as we are, and still uncomprehending -- into the fellowship of Christ. We thank God he has given us to see what atheists cannot see. And we insist,
There is no salvation through anyone else,nor is there any other name under heavengiven to the human race by which we are to be saved.
