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Elizabeth,
This means that God is in control and is sovereign, and we utterly depend on Him and His Grace for everything. The Father takes the initiative in his own time. "The Father must draw each person into belief. Without the assistance of the Spirit, Jesus’ words are not believed (John 6:64–65). If these words of Jesus are not believed, the divine life is not participated in, the Body and Blood of the Lord in the Eucharist are partaken of unworthily, and the person chances the forfeiture of the resurrection of eternal life. Jesus makes this clear."
(Stephen K. Ray, St. John’s Gospel: A Bible Study Guide and Commentary (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2002), p. 168) |
We need not fear, though, that some people will not have a chance at salvation because God does not want them, for
"God our Savior [] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
(1 Timothy 2:3–4, RSV2CE).
The Second Vatican Council teaches that all men are called to salvation (Lumen Gentium #13).
The document Dominus Iesus says,
| "It must therefore be firmly believed as a truth of Catholic faith that the universal salvific will of the One and Triune God is offered and accomplished once for all in the mystery of the incarnation, death, and resurrection of the Son of God." (#14). |
And the Council of Quierzy says,
| "Omnipotent God wishes all men without exception to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) although not all will be saved. However, that certain ones are saved, is the gilt of the one who saves; that certain ones perish, however, is the deserved punishment of those who perish." (DS 623). |
So there is no need to fear that one is not called to salvation. God gives sufficient grace to all to be saved.
Eric
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