The Catholic Calendar for Friday, February 20, 2004
Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
James 2:14-24
Psalm 112:1-6
Mark 8:34--9:1

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The first reading from James treats of the familiar issue of faith and works. For hundreds of years this has been a source of controversy between Christians. The recent joint declaration of Catholics and Lutherans has laid this issue to rest. It states that for both Paul and James, faith flows into good works. Good works are rooted in a foundation of faith. When God gives us the grace to believe, He also lays on us an obligation to put that faith into action.

In the Gospel, Jesus demands that his followers accept renunciation, suffering, and total commitment. In other words, our faith in Jesus is not faith at all unless we're willing to act in accordance with His teaching.

The question we ask today is: How much do I believe that the Cross is necessarily bound to my following of the Master? Not just occasionally, but day by day, hour by hour and moment by moment, whenever Jesus demands it of me.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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posted by joachim at 4:13 AM