September 13, 2015 — Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is 50: 5-9A; Ps 114: 1-6, 8-9: Jas 2: 14-18; Mk 8: 27-35
“Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.” (James 2: 18) In our Second Reading from the Letter of James we are challenged to have a living faith, a faith backed up by action. This is a concept which has been debated ever since Jesus invited us to be His disciples. Is our faith enough to save us, or must we do more? James certainly thinks we need to do more.
James is making reference to something termed by most theologians as “living faith.” That kind of faith is exemplified by being an active participant in building the Kingdom. It is more than attending Mass and praying. It is the kind of faith to which we are called through stewardship. Our faith communities, our parishes, are filled with ministries and ways that we can serve and reach out to those in need. Perhaps we need to find a way to be involved in something, anything, to be an active member of our communities, a focused and participating steward.
God knows who and what we are. For some of us prayer and a complete trusting faith is most likely enough. However, James is trying to let us know that if we can, we need to look for more. We need to find ways to live out our faith as stewards of our many gifts.
