Word to the Wise
Thursday, October 15, 2009 - St. Teresa of Avila - Virgin and Doctor of the Church
[Romans 3:21-30 and Luke 11:47-54]For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to Gentiles, too? Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
"Faith and good works" is a topic that was at the ideological roots of the Reformation in the 16th century. It would take too long to set the entire historical context. Suffice it to say, the Catholic Church, among other problems, had reached a point of formalism that salvation had become a kind of mechanical process that could be literally purchased in the form of a document from church authorities granting an "indulgence" from sins. We know that this was not the case in truth, but it was definitely the case in practice or at least in the eyes of the faithful. The church formally condemns the sale of sacred things or principles as "simony." But St. Peter's in Rome was being financed in no small part through the donations given for such things as indulgences. The theological issue focused on whether or not a person could "earn" salvation by such things as pious acts or donations. A heresy known as Pelagianism from the time of St. Augustine said that humans could earn their way into heaven without God's help! This way of thinking was still strong in the time of the Reformation and is still found in the thinking of many Catholics. Many will cite the judgment scene in Matthew 25 in which the Divine Judge speaks of the "works of mercy" that we do or fail to do. Others will cite the Letter of James which speaks directly to the issue of faith and works. However, in all cases, it is not a matter of faith in opposition to works but as a motivating force. Faith is not a static state of being. It is oriented to action. To claim to have faith without any consequent love of neighbor is a lie! Thus, St. Paul is pointing out that the status of a person before God is a matter of faith in Jesus Christ (for those who have heard of him) and not a matter of acts dictated by the Law of Moses. A Jew would be obliged to the Torah by virtue of circumcision, but that would not save him. It would be his faith in God that would do that. Thus, Gentiles could be justified equally on the basis of their faith. This did not exempt either Jew or Gentile from the obligation to love their neighbor and act justly. A lady came to see me once with a large number of devotional cards which listed certain spiritual benefits that would come to her by saying all the prayers on these cards. She figured that she had God obliged to her by virtue of all these prayers. Her concern was that she was running out of time in her day to do it all! She was missing the point, of course. Her faith is what would save her, not her holy card devotions. Matthew 25 and the Letter of James remind us that we cannot "rest on our faith" and ignore our brothers and sisters in need. The Letter to the Romans reminds us salvation is open to all faithful believers. AMEN
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