Classic Lines
theophilus May 16th, 2008
The Bible is full of classic lines – some complex, some simple.
Today’s first reading from James 2 has two of my favorite passages.
The first is when St. James writes -
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day,
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
How many times do we say a prayer for someone without doing anything to actually help them? We tell them essentially to “go in peace, keep warm, and eat well” but don’t do anything to help them achieve peace, keep warm or fill their stomach.
So, St. James gives us the clue that we are supposed to have faith and works. We cannot work our way into heaven. It’s our faith that will get us there. But we show we have faith by the works we do – by putting our faith into action.
As for the second passage – St. James writes ”Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?” He actually calls his reader an “ignoramus.” With all of the great writing and language in scripture, we get a comment that you or I would make – “ignoramous.” Classic!
There is also a great line in today’s gospel from Mark 8 – “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
Our goal is not success in this world, it’s success in the eternal world. What decisions are we making today that are gaining for us the whole world but, in the process, forfeiting our life in heaven? When we contemplate our successes, we need to really think about the causes of the success – our own personal ambition or God’s plan for us. If it’s the former, we’re in trouble; if it’s the latter, we’re on the right path.
Classic lines to really contemplate today.
- Culture , Faith , God's Call , Liturgy
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