Our Inheritance

In today's second reading, 1 Peter 1: 3-9, St. Peter praises God that "his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of  Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time."

Jesus has secured for you and me

• a new birth,
• a living hope,
• an imperishable inheritance,
• an undefiled inheritance,
• and unfading inheritance.

Think about it.  We here on earth lock our valuables in "safe boxes."  The most valuable gift God has won for us through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus is "locked" up in heaven where thieves cannot steal. In the words of St. Peter, by the "power of God" it is "safeguarded through faith."   Our faith here on earth will be tried. We will pass through many trials, including death itself. However, this gift of eternal salvation is ready for the day when we are born to eternal life, passing through the birth canal, death itself. Our "imperishable, undefiled, unfading inheritance" will "be revealed in the final time" when we leave this earth for eternal life.