Daily Readings - Fri Feb 21 2020
James
14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Mark
34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the dynamic relationship between faith and action. The Epistle of James challenges us to move beyond mere belief, emphasizing that true faith is demonstrated through our deeds. James illustrates this by contrasting a faith that is inactive with one that is alive, using the example of Abraham, whose actions confirmed his faith. This teaching underscores that faith without works is incomplete, much like a body without a spirit.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus expands on this theme by discussing the nature of discipleship. He calls His followers to deny themselves and take up their cross, illustrating that true commitment requires sacrifice. Jesus warns against valuing worldly gains over spiritual well-being, highlighting that our actions must reflect our priorities. This teaching aligns with James' message, as both emphasize that our faith must be evident in our actions and choices.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to examine how we live out our faith. It is not enough to profess belief; we must actively serve and love others, embodying Christ's teachings. The moral lesson here is clear: faith must be paired with works, and discipleship requires sacrifice. Let us strive to live out our faith with integrity, ensuring our actions reflect our commitment to follow Christ, even when it demands self-denial.