Sept 15: Faith or Works?

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sometimes we think the argument of faith vs. works started with the Reformation. But the second reading shows that it was already being debated in New Testament times. The simplified version of the debate has the Reformers saying that faith alone is all we need to be saved, while the Catholic side says we have to do good to be saved. Actually, they are both right. 

The idea of works being necessary for salvation probably goes back to the Old Covenant emphasis on the law and the commandments. The Jews believed that keeping the law showed their holiness. They avoided anything or anyone that was unclean. They believed that their religious practices set them apart from the pagans around them.

Then Jesus came to show that only God is Holy. Our holiness comes from loving God and loving others. Because Jesus is the Son of God, he is the best way to know God. So believing in Jesus is not just believing that he exists, (like those who believe in Santa Claus or UFO’s.) It means we believe in Love, the love Jesus showed by his life and death. We believe in a Person who loves us and showed us that God is not our boss or judge; he is our Father. He gives us life and protects us; he supports us and also lets us learn from our mistakes. Then he forgives us, showing that he loves us even when we turn away from him.

So if we truly believe in Jesus we believe in what he said and did. We follow his commandment of love, not because we want to avoid evil, but because we love him so much we want to be just like him. We help others, not to make us look good, but to show them how good God is. So you cannot truly believe in Jesus without wanting to help others to know and love him too. Jesus’ way of saying that in today’s gospel was to take up our cross and follow him. That is truly a work of faith.

Tom Schmidt