The following reflection is from my homily on Friday, October 9th, 2020, and the scripture can be found at https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100920.cfm
Over the last several days, our first reading at Mass
has been from the letter of St. Paul to the Galatians. There was a dispute that
broke out between those who felt that you needed to be circumcised under Jewish
law, before you can become a follower of Christ, and St. Paul who indicates
that it is through faith, not observance of the law that brings us salvation.
Just as Abraham was justified because he believed what
God had said... so we too are declared righteous by faith in Jesus Christ our
Lord. God's dealings with Abraham had nothing to do with what Abraham did but
rested entirely on that fact that he believed the Word of God.
And God's dealings with the Galatian Christians is no
different from God's dealings with the believers of today - that our righteousness
has nothing to do with what we do but rests entirely on believing in
Christ and what He did. All that we are in Christ and all that we have in Him
is not based on our merit. It does not rest on our good deeds or works of the
law - our salvation rests on Christ and is ours by faith in the truth of
God's Word.
The whole book of Galatians deals with this serious
problem that we are not justified by the works of the Law, by
physical heritage or an accident of birth. We are justified by faith. However
certain Jewish teachers were unable to let go of their religion in the
Church in Galatia but Paul taught them that the sons of Abraham are those
of faith.
This teaching of Paul may seem to contradict what St.
James writes in the Letter of James, chapter 2: “See how a person is justified by works and not by faith
alone.” Both what St. Paul is teaching about faith alone, and what James
teaches about faith and works compliment each other. Once we have faith in the
Lord Jesus, we are called by Jesus to be of service to others, out of love of
God. But central to what both Paul and James are teaching is that we need faith
to bring us to salvation in the Lord Jesus.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of faith that we
have in you as our Lord and Savior. Help us to bring this faith to others in
our lives in order to bring them salvation! Amen.
From my friend, Nilda: Deacon Tom,
ReplyDeleteThe message of this homily is one that required of me much reflection and meditation with a deep sense of spirituality, and yet, come to the same intended conclusion of understanding, proposed to everyone concerned. Following is my interpretation and reflection of your homily by underscoring the parts that stood out to me, and inserting in parenthesis, my individual thoughts that I felt was needed to complete the message, for me.
You say: "All that we are in Christ and all that we have in Him is not based on our merit. It does not rest on our good deeds or works of the law - our salvation rests on Christ… (His gift of grace to us) which can be ours through faith (by virtue of obedience), and (through works, by virtue of humility); ...our salvation rests on Christ and (can be) ours by (our sincere) faith in the truth of God's Word.
(In conclusion), what St. Paul is teaching about faith alone, and what St. James teaches about faith and works; compliment each other. St. Paul teaches about faith alone, but, St. James writes in the Letter of James, chapter 2: “See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (by the grace of God).
Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of faith that we have in you as our Lord and Savior. (May it inspire us to share it in word and deed with our neighbor, that You may be revealed through us, and in turn they may choose to follow you, for the glory and honor of your Name). Amen.
On my Christian radio station, 570 WMCA AM I have heard the following apt quote from our Evangelical Christian brothers & sisters: "We are saved through faith, not works, but the faith that saves WORKS". This puts it succinctly. If our faith is merely a declaration in words or an "altar call" it probably is not truly faith. Faith is demonstrated in our obedience to God & in our actions. By faith Abraham obeyed God by leaving his homeland & by preparing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice.
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