28th Friday in Ordinary time, October 20, 2023
Rom 4:1-8; Ps 32:1-2, 5, 11; Lk 12:1-7
We receive another exhortation from Jesus today. Except this one is a little friendlier than the ones we have heard recently. Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” By hearing this, we have to assume Jesus was sensing a great fear in all those around Him. Yes, the persecutions of Him and His followers were starting, but in a general sense, it was meant to be a wake-up call to the rest of the world. “Beware of the leaven,” Jesus says in referring to the Pharisees and the requirements they put forth to become righteous. Jesus goes on and warns them, that no matter what they think, say, or do, it will be known. We can take that same thought and apply it to ourselves. No matter what we think, say, or do, God knows. No wonder the thought of fear creeps in and hence, Jesus’ exhortation to not be afraid. God is there, and God notices.
Saint Paul, in his letter to the Romans, was also addressing fear. At the time, the Jews had 613 laws they needed to follow if they were to become righteous. Now Jesus comes along and throws all those laws out and offers them something else, love. And that love is a response to our faith. Our faith in God and that God will provide for us in all circumstances. So it makes sense that Jesus says, do not be afraid. Yet, our righteousness by faith needs a response. Even though that love is freely given, we must have a response to it. That response is the works that we do. The works we do in response to the righteousness and love we obtain through our faith in God. Seems like a round-robin, right? We have faith, so we obtain righteousness, and out of our righteousness, we need to respond, so we do good works. And by our good works, we obtain more faith in God and receive love from God. Our response then is our faith in God, which begets more work in response, etc. I think my head is spinning…
So many people get this faith without works thing wrong. They either believe that they do not have to do good works and still receive God’s love, or they must do a lot of work to receive God’s love. Both are wrong but partially right. It is through faith we believe in God, and God freely gives us His love with our faith in Him. Yet that love, so freely given, requires a response, and that response is the good works we do. They go hand in hand, yet through both, on their own, God will credit us with righteousness. Faith, with or without works, is what God asks of us. This faith, this gift, is offered to all. All we need to do is respond and not be afraid. For God notices us and will take care of us forever, until the end of time.
Saint James Catholic Church 