See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. - James 2:24,26
LET YOUR ACTION DO THE TALKING
I
recently got to know Joe Dean Sola a little better. He’s the founder of
He Cares, a foundation that gives street children a fresh start and new
opportunities in life. They aim to rescue at least one child from the
streets every day. They’ve rehabilitated and evangelized hundreds of
kids over the past decade.
But before Joe Dean actually put up the foundation, his ministry
already existed. Joe Dean would literally give shivering kids the shirt
off his back and would lie down with them in the street on a chilly
night to keep them warm. He would give the last few coins in his pocket
to feed a hungry street child.
Every time Joe Dean speaks about his passion for the poor, I’m moved to
tears. To no fail. (I’m actually in tears right now as I write this!)
His love for the lowly is so evident and infectious. But more than his
actual words that move me, I believe it’s the fact that his words are
alive.
Christian author John Maxwell once said, “I don’t practice what I
preach. I only preach what I practice.” Well, that would be a really
good way to describe Joe Dean. He doesn’t see himself as a good speaker,
but in my opinion, he doesn’t actually have to be one. His actions do
the talking. And people hear him loud and clear. George Tolentino Gabriel
1ST READING
Faith
is all about action. Justice is all about putting right the wrongs we
discover in our lives and in the world around us. True righteousness is
not about seeing ourselves with a monopoly of the understanding of good
and right, but about living the truth as we know it, and seeking to
influence those around us with our commitment to it. Judgmentalism will
never serve the Kingdom of God. It will simply turn people off to our
message.
James 2:14-24, 26
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, 16 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? 17 So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 Indeed
someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your
faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from
my works. 19 You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble. 20 Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was comp leted by the works. 23 Thus
the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it
was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of
God. 24 See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 26 For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
P S A L M
Psalm 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R: Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.
1 Blessed the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. (R) 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever. 4 Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. (R) 5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; 6 he shall never be moved; the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance. (R)
GOSPEL
Jesus
is getting down to business now. He is making it clear that to be His
disciple is not going to be easy. It will mean embracing many difficult
and trying decisions. It will mean taking up our cross and following
Him. The disciples could not fully understand what this meant as they
had no idea that Jesus was going to die, and on a cross at that.
However, I am sure they would be able to understand that what Jesus was
saying to them constituted a warning that to follow Him would involve
trial and suffering of one kind or another.
Mark 8:34–9:1
34 Jesus
summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes
to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it. 36 What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37 What could one give in exchange for his life? 38 Whoever
is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful
generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his
Father’s glory with the holy angels.” 9: 1 He
also said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come
in power.”
REFLECTION
THE SLAVE AND THE MASTER
Not too many Catholics know this African saint who lived in the late 19th
century until the early 20th century and whose memorial we celebrated
last February 8. People call her St. Josephine Bakhita, but the reality
is that she never had a name — maybe just a number to facilitate the
public auctions in which the highest bidder would be her new master. She
was a slave in Africa who grew up knowing nothing about herself, except
that she was a slave. So early in life, without yet knowing Jesus, she
already denied herself and took up her cross. Serving one master after
another, she felt empty and incomplete. She humbly surrendered to her
fate as a slave.
Not knowing how to pray, she just wished all her life that her next
master would be less mean, do her less harm, add less scars to her
already scarred body. Later on, in another public auction, an Italian
couple bought her and took her with them to Italy. While she served
their household, she discovered that even a slave can be treated
humanely. They were close to treating her as their own daughter. She
started going to church with them. She received catechesis from the
Canossian Sisters and learned about Jesus.
She could not believe her faith discovery — that after all the pains
she endured from different masters, there is actually a great Master
named Jesus who offered His life for her! All she knew was that a master
would flog her after every mistake. After all, that’s the life of a slave. And then she found
the greatest treasure in Jesus, who took the form of a slave. Many
people cannot relate to St. Bakhita because we are not slaves. But the
Lord constantly invites us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and
follow Him. Because we are not slaves, we tend to escape every possible
hardship that may confront us, even if it means serving and following
the Lord. We want to lord it over others. We want to conquer and remain
victors in its worldliest sense. In the process, we ruin our lives and
part ways with God.
Like Bakhita, may we find our own treasure and stronghold in Jesus. Only He can complete our lives. Fr. Erick Y. Santos, OFS
"Lord, may people see You in my actions, not just in my words."
No comments:
Post a Comment