2nd Week of Easter, Thursday, 5-1-25, Year C
Readings: 1st Reading: Acts 5:27-33; Psalm 34:2,9,17-20; Gospel Jn 3:31-36/
Optional Memorial: St. Joseph The Worker
Theme: Faith & Works Leads to Everlasting Life
As I walked along someone approached me who was handing out church pamphlets and said, “Faith in Jesus Christ will save you! All you have to do is have faith in Jesus, and you are saved.” I said to him, “But what about works? If all I have is faith alone and do not put it into action, what good is my faith? Am I not being selfish and hoarding my faith to myself? Is that what Jesus asks of our faith?” He looked at me with a blankness in his eyes and then quickly moved on to the next person.
Jesus taught us that the two most important laws are, first, a complete love for God, and second, for our neighbor. (Mt 22:36-40) In other words, our salvation boils down to two things: Faith (love for God) and Works (love for neighbor). These two go hand-in-hand. You cannot have one without the other and expect to be truly saved. Faith alone is not enough, as St. James tells us,
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
Can that faith save him?
So, also, faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
(Jas 2:14,17)
Reading scripture by yourself and contemplating God’s Word alone is a very pious act and a start on the path to salvation. But keeping these words and the faith that comes from them to yourself is not enough. You must put into action what you have read in the Holy Scriptures, or your faith is well, dead.
Reaching out to others beyond your comfort zone, forgiving those who have hurt you, or spending your time helping others without expecting a return is imperative for a true believer, one looking for salvation. We must find ways to put our faith into action as the apostles did in the first reading.
The apostles were scared at first to even mention Jesus’ name in public. But, after Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit, they took their faith in Jesus and, through works of evangelization, boldly proclaimed Him all over Jerusalem, knowing that they could be put to death for doing so. Their “works” came out of their faith.
In today’s gospel, Jesus tells us that “the one who comes from above is above all” and “Whoever does accept His testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.” So, these words tell us we must have “Faith.” Jesus also tells us that, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God will be upon him.” These words, especially that of disobeying, tell us that we must “do” what Jesus asks us to do, which is “Works”.
If your Faith is solid but you are not quite sure where to begin with Works, why not start out with the Corporal Works of Mercy:
Feed the Hungry, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Shelter the Homeless, Visit the Sick, Visit Prisoners, Bury the Dead, and Clothe the Naked.
These seven merciful acts are a great place to start thinking about how you can apply Works to your Faith in everyday life, not just at home but out in the world.
So have Faith and love God by reading scripture, attending Mass, and praying. Then do Works by reaching out to help your neighbor through the Corporal Works of Mercy. In this way, you are putting your Faith into action. Believe in Jesus’ words with Faith, live out those words with Works, and you will be granted salvation in heaven.Today we celebrate St. Joseph the Worker. St. Joseph is the true manifestation of putting faith to work for the good of all humanity. For without the works of St. Joseph, Jesus’ mission to save humanity would have been much more difficult. Like the Archangel speaking to Mary at her annunciation, the Archangel spoke to St. Joseph in his betrothal to Mary. As with Mary’s fiat to God and her works in bearing His Son Jesus, St. Joseph’s fiat in creating a family for Mary and Jesus is no less important or astounding.
Saint James Catholic Church 