28th Week in OT 2019 - Wednesday - Faith and Good Works

On Monday, we began the great letter of Saints Paul’s to the Romans.  Excluding feast days and solemnities, the first reading for weekdays will be from this particular Pauline epistle until the first week of November.

The letter to the Romans wasn’t the first of the epistles to be written, but it is the first letter we come across in our bible—right after the book of Acts.  It is the longest of the letters, and perhaps the most important.  It was written to Christians in Rome, the capital of the world, and it is the world’s first systematic, logically organized Christian theology.

Paul is writing to this community, whom he has never met, in order to build them up and strengthen their faith. Why? Because as he states, “the one who lives by faith will live.”  In other words, faith in Jesus Christ leads to everlasting life.

In the introduction to the letter which we we heard on Monday, Paul lists his credentials:  I am Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.  Here is a man who has given himself entirely to God in faith in order to instill faith in others.

Paul then goes on to explain the universal need of salvation, how through wickedness and sin, we lost the glory of God. He continues to elaborate today that God judges rightly and impartially.

Man forms his judgments about the world and his neighbor based on incomplete truths. He is often motivated by envy and arrogance. We hold others to standards that we do not keep for ourselves. But not God. God’s judgment, Paul writes today is impartial. It doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or Gentile, old or young, rich or poor, “God will repay everyone according to his works…those who persevere in good works” will inherit eternal life.

Paul connects faith in Christ Jesus and good works, much like St. James in his epistle: “faith without works is dead” and as we proclaimed in the Psalm “Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.” We do not come to eternal life through works alone, but authentic and saving faith must translate into humble acts of kindness and charity and obedience to the commandments of God.

Faith has led us here to the celebration of Holy Mass, the great work of prayer for the needs of the world and needs of the Church. May we go forth into the world today committed to acts and works of mercy, living in the truth of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may be dedicated to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

That we may be attentive to the needs of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, those who are sick, unemployed, or suffering from addiction, mental, or physical illness, imprisoned, and those most in need.

For mercy for the most vulnerable of our human family, the unborn; that their mothers may choose life and be supported by a culture of life.

For the young people of our parish. May they be strengthened to be witnesses to the Gospel of mercy and work for a future that embodies a genuine culture of mercy.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of October, “that the breath of the Holy Spirit may engender a new missionary ‘spring’ in the Church.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.