Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
(James
2:14-24.26; Mark 8:34-9:1)
It is said
that Martin Luther wanted to omit the Letter of James from the Bible because of
today’s passage. For Luther all human
works are tainted by egoism which makes them unworthy. He was quite sure that faith alone is sufficient
for salvation.
The point
that James wants to make is rather simple. The virtues don’t exist completely
separate from one another. If one is to
love as God does, that person must believe that his acts of love matter in the
sum of things. Similarly, if one really
believes in a God who loves, she will show that belief with an act of love. Yet it is possible that one’s love be deficient. St. Augustine knew that his budding faith
would not save him if he continued to live with his mistress.
Faith is
necessary for salvation. This faith may
be explicit by our professing the creed.
Or it may be implicit like the agnostic who consistently helps his or
her neighbors. But faith without works
of love is hollow. It is like a corpse
from which life is drained. It cannot
live eternally.
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