Date: June 25, 2020 ()

Bible Text: |

Series:

One of the prominent teachings we can find in the letter of James is his emphasis on the importance of work or action. In his letter, James tells us: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? …faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.“ James’ doctrine of action is actually a doctrine from our Lord Jesus himself who said: everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock…Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father.

In his preaching, Jesus uses the analogy of the seed to refer to the message of faith planted in the hearts. He always desires that the seed will grow and bear fruit. How do we know that this faith is now bearing fruit? It is seen by our actions. Actions, the works of mercy, validate the sincerity and genuineness of our faith.

In our penitential rite: there are two kinds of sin that we need to be pardoned from. Those sins we commit; and the lack of works of mercy. Inaction is also a form of rebelliousness and refusal to do our errands. One of the things that irritate and angers my mom is when I don’t do my house chores.

In today’s gospel, Jesus is also emphasizing that of “doing the will of my Father.” This is also another important thing to consider. Yes, we may do some good actions for God, but God is more interested in what He wants us to do. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

When I was a kid, I had fun going with my fellow kids to the woods to gather firewood. It sounds like a good thing. But the real score was that I went with them because we would swim in the river. I still get a dose of punishment as soon as I go home because after all, they did not tell me to gather firewood as it is very dangerous to be lost in the middle of the woods. There may be good actions people are trying to display but they can come from selfish motivation or hypocrisy. That’s why it is important that we pray to be able to discern the prompting of the spirit - that what we do is truly the will of God.