FAITH DEMANDS DEEDS-ACTIONS
Introduction
Today, we have in the first reading one of the most important passages of James: faith demands commitment – or, as Jesus will say in the Gospel, consistent discipleship. “Faith without works is a dead faith,” a mere belief in theoretical tenets. Sometimes, James is opposed to Paul – that was Luther’s main difficulty – because Paul says we are saved by faith, not works. Both take “works” in a different sense. “Works” for Paul is the observance of the Jewish practices of the old Law, from which the Christian is liberated, but for the follower of Christ, says Paul, faith works through love, through adherence to Christ. So, let our faith shine in works of love and service.
Being a disciple of Jesus implies journeying with Jesus on the way of the cross. Christians, followers of Christ, are people marked with the cross. We make the sign of the cross not merely symbolically when we pray but also in real life, whether we like it or not. We have to learn to accept the cross with Jesus.
1 Reading: James 2:14-24, 26
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Responsorial Psalm: 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.
Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands.
Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. R.
Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. R.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.
Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. R.
Alleluia: John 15:15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I call you my friends, says the Lord,
For I have made known to you all that the Father told me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 8:34—9:1
Jesus called the people and his disciples and said, “If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it; and if you lose your life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel, you will save it. What good is it to gain the whole world but destroy yourself? There is nothing you can give to recover your life. I tell you: If anyone is ashamed of me and of my words among this adulterous and sinful people, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the Glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he went on to say, “Truly I tell you, there are some here who will not die before they see the kingdom of God coming with power.”
Commentary
Paul emphasizes that faith saves. James says that a faith that does not express itself in works is very dead. How can one claim to be a believer and then bypass the person who is without food or clothing? There is no contradiction between Paul and James. Paul insists that the gift of faith is never merited or achieved through human effort. James would not find fault with that. But, he would go on to say, once a person comes to faith, that faith comes to life through a virtuous life. Concern for others, cross bearing, and spiritual dedication find expression in good works. This means that faith is always pure gift, but it expresses itself in virtuous activity.
This is wholly consonant with today’s Gospel. If a believer loses his spiritual vision and pursues only earthly benefits, that person is living a life of contradiction. That person’s faith has been derailed.
A life lived in faith is not difficult to detect. The people who truly live in faith can be identified because they are the ones who give of themselves and their possessions without hesitation.
An old saying puts it well: “True faith means to live one’s life in such a way that it would make no sense if God did not exist.”
Blessing
What, indeed, is the use of our faith if we do not live by it? What is the use of believing in love if we do not love? What is the use of believing in forgiveness if we cannot forgive? Live as you believe, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!