Swimming Forbidden..."

English-speaking travelers abroad are often amused by signs in fractured English - like a sign by a swimming pool at a French Rivera hotel: "Swimming forbidden in the absence of the savior." 

Before our smile dies away at the quaint translation of the word "lifeguard," there emerges, almost ineluctably, a spiritual significance hidden in the curious wording. Nothing, including swimming, should be done in the "absence of the Savior." That he will never be "absent" from us was revealed from the beginning in his very name ' "Emmanuel," meaning "God with us" (Mt 1:23). This prophetic sign was first applied to Christ when it was given to Ahaz (see Isaiah 7:14).

The name "God is with us" was originally meant to convince Ahez that God would "rescue" him from his enemies. The Hebrew phrase "God is with us" connoted not just his ongoing presence, but also his ever-present protection (see Numbers 14:9; Psalms 46:7) - an always-on-duty "lifeguard," if you will, ever ready to "save."

We don't claim to be "once saved, always saved."  That could lead us to regard salvation as a "license for immorality" (Jude 4). At each sin-lapse, we need to shout to our "Lifeguard" to rescue us again; we need an always-on-duty, "God-with-us" Savior. 

"Call to me and I will answer you," says the Lord (Jer 33:3) for " I am with you always, to the very end" (Mt 28:30).

This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net