Daily Readings - Fri Feb 18 2022
James
14My brothers, what benefit is there if someone claims to have faith, but he does not have works? How would faith be able to save him15So if a brother or sister is naked and daily in need of food16and if anyone of you were to say to them: "Go in peace, keep warm and nourished," and yet not give them the things that are necessary for the body, of what benefit is this17Thus even faith, if it does not have works, is dead, in and of itself18Now someone may say: "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works! But I will show you my faith by means of works19You believe that there is one God. You do well. But the demons also believe, and they tremble greatly20So then, are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead21Was not our father Abraham justified by means of works, by offering his son Isaac upon the altar22Do you see that faith was cooperating with his works, and that by means of works faith was brought to fulfillment23And so the Scripture was fulfilled which says: "Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice." And so he was called the friend of God24Do you see that a man is justified by means of works, and not by faith alone26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead
Mark
34And calling together the crowd with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone chooses to follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me35For whoever will have chosen to save his life, will lose it. But whoever will have lost his life, for my sake and for the Gospel, shall save it36For how does it benefit a man, if he gains the whole world, and yet causes harm to his soul37Or, what will a man give in exchange for his soul38For whoever has been ashamed of me and of my words, among this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also will be ashamed of him, when he will arrive in the glory of his Father, with the holy Angels.
Sermon
The readings today remind us that faith is not merely a belief in God, but a way of life that must be expressed through our actions. In the first reading from James, we hear that faith without works is dead. James challenges us to consider whether our faith is merely an intellectual assent or if it is lived out in tangible ways. He uses the example of Abraham, who demonstrated his faith through his willingness to obey God even when it seemed impossible. This emphasizes that true faith is not just about what we say we believe, but about how we live out those beliefs in our daily lives.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further by calling us to deny ourselves and take up our cross. He makes it clear that following Him requires sacrifice and a willingness to put His will above our own desires. Jesus warns that if we are ashamed of Him and His teachings, He will be ashamed of us when He comes in glory. This is a powerful reminder that our faith must be visible and courageous, even in the face of adversity. The readings together emphasize that faith is not a passive state, but an active commitment to living according to God's will.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I living out my faith? Am I merely going through the motions, or am I truly denying myself and following Christ? Let us strive to be like Abraham, whose faith was brought to fulfillment through his actions. Let us also remember that following Christ requires sacrifice, but it is through that sacrifice that we find true life. May we be bold in living out our faith, trusting that God will bring it to fulfillment in ways we cannot yet see.