Faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead

Faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead

By REV. FR. SAMUEL FREDERICK

Eph. 2:1-10, Lk. 12:13-21. In today's first reading, Paul emphasises that we are saved by grace which is a free gift that precedes anything we do, not something that we have merited, as he adds: “this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one may boast.” At first sight this seem to render our own behaviour irrelevant to our salvation. If the gift is so freely given, what need is there for any effort on our part? It was surely to counter such passive view that James made this rejoinder: “Faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). However, Paul is far from downgrading the need for good works, as our proper response to the free gift of grace. His favourite prophet was Isaiah, who wrote, in his famous call to conversion: “Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow” (Ish 1:16.23).

In today's Gospel, the parable of the rich man, Jesus warns against a common fault of hoarding. The man has a tremendous harvest and says to himself that he will build a larger barn and then put in it a delightful place of security and satisfaction. Jesus warns against making property our main source of security. When someone came asking him to intervene in a family dispute about inheritance, he refuses to get involved, but offers his advice, that a person’s life is not made secure by what he owns. This is a lesson we must learn from the parable: never to heaped up money just for the sake of money and the pleasures it could buy. We are challenged not to store commodities in ways that served no useful purpose for others. In spite of owning so much, the rich man had 'no name' in the sight of God. We need to be rather detached from money in order to be rich in the sight of God. This calls for a generous spirit, willing to share what we have so that others may get a fairer deal in life. The life of Jesus is iconic for this kind of generosity, as Paul says: "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich."

May the Lord be the beginning and end of all we do and say and prompt our actions with His grace to avoid greed in our hearts! Amen!! Remain safe and have a productive week!!!

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