Word to the Wise
Thursday, October 17, 2013 - Thursday in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 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.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013 ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH - bishop and martyr
When I was a student brother [seminarian] years ago, I was permitted to attend and participate in doctoral seminars. One of these seminars was on the subject of "faith and justification." Each of the students was required to compare a commentary by some distinguished theologian on the Epistle to the Romans with Martin Luther's commentary on it. I was assigned the commentary by the principal theologian assigned by the Vatican to debate with Luther - a famous Dominican by the name of Thomas De Vio, Cardinal Cajetan. Cajetan wrote his commentary some years after his unsuccessful effort to change Luther's mind but what I found most interesting is that they pretty much agreed on the subject but were coming at it from a very different perspective. Luther's approach was much more "existential" - reflecting his very emotional and person faith. Cajetan's approach was more analytic and intellectual - no doubt reflecting his status as one of the major experts on St. Thomas Aquinas in that time. [16th century]
Ultimately they both agreed that there is nothing that we can do to EARN salvation. It is a free gift of God which we only have to accept and live. St. Paul would no doubt have said to both of them, "Well, of course! I told you so centuries ago! Just read my letter again!" His point, still a matter for big commentaries, is that the relationship between God and human is founded on faith and not on physical behavior [external observances]. Physical/moral behavior must follow faith, which motivates it. When our behavior is at odds with the truth about Jesus, we cannot claim to be acting "in good faith," even if we think our intentions are good! This is why the moral tradition of the church is important. We can measure our lives by it and understand the implications of faith. If one reads St. Paul's letters to the Corinthians, one can see how it is not just a matter of saying, "I believe!" and then doing whatever one wants! Nor is it a matter of "earning points" by being good! We start from our relationship in faith with God and then see how we can express it in our lives. AMEN