Thinking about indulgences (which are beautiful ways for to God pour out His extravagant love that I’m all about) and wondering when the focus of Christian practice switched from “being a disciple of Jesus/functioning member of His body” to “saving my soul.” (1/4)

While indulgences entice us to very balanced and basic practices (like praying for the dead or reading Scripture), there is a temptation to let the Christian life devolve into indulgence-chasing for the sake of our own salvation,..(2/4)

Instead of following Jesus, glorifying God, serving our neighbor... the saving of our own soul being a happy result of this life of discipleship, a work accomplished by Jesus & received by a life lived in conformity to His Spirit. (3/4)

No intention of being negative about indulgences, which usually guide us to very normative/healthy practices & let God pour out wild grace! Just reflecting on my faith life & how we can mistake means for ends.

Anyway let’s pray for our dead, especially in November! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏" title="Folded hands" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Rotes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Rotes Herz">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔥" title="Feuer" aria-label="Emoji: Feuer"> (fin)

Now I’m thinking about St Paul “work out your salvation in fear & trembling” so I don’t want to downplay the goal of our own salvation either. It’s always part of the mix of motivations, and rightly so.