October 19, 2009
Memorial of Saint John de Brébeuf and Saint Isaac Jogues, priests and martyrs, and their companions, martyrs
Abraham did not doubt God's promise in unbelief; rather, he was empowered by faith and gave glory to God and was fully convinced that what he had promised he was also able to do. That is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." Romans 4:20-22
"Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!" But God said to him, 'You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?' Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God." Luke 12:19-21
Piety
Father, we know that what matters to you is finding those who are lost. Help us to have the strength of faith shown by Abraham, Moses and Mary to accept in obedience and faith the work you ask of us. Give us the fortitude to carry it out in the world. Gives us these qualities and make us rich in what matters most to you. Amen.
Study
Abraham was rich in what matters to God. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his most loved possession under God’s command. It was faith of this strength that helped him to give glory to God AND to do what he had promised.
Romans is often cited to support the theology of “sola fide” or “by faith alone.” To go along with this, we read in Hebrews further on what Abraham did because of his faith:
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God. By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age--and Sarah herself was sterile--for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore. Hebrews 11:8-12
By such faith, Abraham is our example of what is referred to in Hebrews 1:1. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Theological sources explain the doctrine of sola fide or "by faith alone" asserts God's pardon for guilty sinners is granted to and received through faith or belief alone, to the exclusion of all human efforts or works. All humanity, it is asserted, is fallen and sinful, under the curse of God, and incapable of saving itself from God's wrath and curse. But God, on the basis of the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ alone grants sinners judicial pardon, or justification, which is received solely through faith. Such faith brings us into relationship with God. However, to be brought into a right relationship with our neighbors, our human efforts are required to go along with and beyond faith alone.
Witness how most inner city missions and programs like the Catholic Workers, the Salvation Army or others that bring the Gospel to the streets minister to homeless men, women and children. They may pass out Bible tracts to spread the word but they also pass out hot soup, warm blankets and a nutritious meal. The corporal works of mercy go hand in glove with the spiritual works of mercy. Both arise from our faith in the Word Jesus brought down from heaven.
Our sins are forgiven by faith in God. However, once we have had our sins forgiven, Jesus taught us to pray “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We need man’s response to God to make the faith come full circle.
Faith alone may bring us pardon, but that faith instills in us a requirement and responsibility for those around us. If Moses had faith but did not act to lead his people to the Promised Land, half of the salvation narrative would be lost. Mary is the purest realization of obedience in faith. And through Mary, we see how faith must be transmitted into how we live our lives. If Mary had faith in the Lord but did consent to bear God’s son and raise him up in the world, the other half of the narrative would be lost.
Action
Faith is what compels us to act. God is always inviting us not just to sit with him but to walk with him, to follow him. Faith alone helps the individual but that individual then has to carry that faith into the world through good works. That is the other half of being rich in what matters to God.
If not, then the Catechism of the Catholic Church could end after the first section: Part One: The Profession of Faith. Instead, it also has three other integral parts: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery through Mass and the other actions of the Church; Life in Christ which brings us to active works of charity to preserve the dignity of all; and Christian Prayer to express and live out our covenant with the Lord.
