Live Our Faith

Homily for Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

In the eleventh chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews, the sacred author writes: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” It could also be translated: “Faith is the assurance of what is hoped for and proof of things not seen.” No matter which way we translate it, the sacred author is trying to help us see past our human reality into the realm of the divine or spiritual. The word “faith” usually goes hand in hand with the word “believe.” The various creeds which we profess list the tenets of our faith and are preceded by the words, “I believe,” or “We believe.”

At the same time, as Christians we are often told that it is our responsibility to “live our faith.” This is the point that St. James is making in the passage we read this morning. We live our faith through good deeds. For St. James it is necessary that we do more than simply assent to our faith. We must do more than simply saying that we believe. Faith needs to be put into action. In this respect we look to specific, observable behaviors that attest to our faith.

Those behaviors are outlined very succinctly for us in the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. We are to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirst, clothe the naked, to give shelter to travelers, to visit the sick, to visit the imprisoned, and to bury the dead. At the same time we admonish sinners, instruct the uninformed, counsel the doubtful, comfort the sorrowful, be patient with those in error, forgive offenses, and pray for the living and the dead. We perform these actions because we believe.

In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus returns and separates the goats from the sheep. The basis for the separation is whether they have behaved as people of faith, whether they acted only as consumers or  also shared with others who were less fortunate.

So while we are undoubtedly saved by our faith, we are called to live out that faith through our deeds. This is exemplified for us perfectly in the Eucharist wherein Jesus lives out his love for us by giving us his life as food for our journey.