Faith working through love

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to cleanse our intentions to live as people with consistent desire to be faithful as we work our relationships in Love.

Working with Love

The Letter of Paul to the Galatians asserts the importance of Faith in our relationship with God.

* [5:6] Cf. Rom 2:25–26; 1 Cor 7:19; Gal 6:15. The Greek for faith working through love or “faith expressing itself through love” can also be rendered as “faith energized by (God’s) love.

In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus denounces the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.

* [11:37–54] This denunciation of the Pharisees (Lk 11:39–44) and the scholars of the law (Lk 11:45–52) is set by Luke in the context of Jesus’ dining at the home of a Pharisee. Controversies with or reprimands of Pharisees are regularly set by Luke within the context of Jesus’ eating with Pharisees (see Lk 5:29–39; 7:36–50; 14:1–24). A different compilation of similar sayings is found in Mt 23 (see also notes there).

Luis Rodriguez, S.J., urges that we need to pray that, as we go through external observance of good norms, including during the celebration of the Eucharist, we do so with the proper disposition in our hearts, because it is this that yields fruit in our lives.

Jesus uses the giving of alms as an example. It is not just a matter of going through the mechanics of dropping coins in the temple collection box. Giving alms is expected to come from inside, from a desire to share with the needy or to contribute to a good cause, like the upkeep of the temple, and it is this disposition of the heart that makes a person clean or unclean, as the gospel of Mark 7:15 reminds us.

Don Schwager quotes “Acts of mercy are examples of almsgiving”, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"What our Lord says, 'Give alms, and behold, all things are clean to you,' applies to all useful acts of mercy. It does not apply just to the one who gives food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, hospitality to the wayfarer or refuge to the fugitive. It also applies to one who visits the sick and the prisoner, redeems the captive, bears the burdens of the weak, leads the blind, comforts the sorrowful, heals the sick, shows the erring the right way, gives advice to the perplexed, and does whatever is needful for the needy. Not only does this person give alms, but the person who forgives the trespasser also gives alms as well. He is also a giver of alms who, by blows or other discipline, corrects and restrains those under his command. At the same time he forgives from the heart the sin by which he has been wronged or offended or prays that it be forgiven the offender. Such a person gives alms not only because he forgives and prays but also because he rebukes and administers corrective punishment, since in this he shows mercy... There are many kinds of alms. When we do them, we are helped in receiving forgiveness of our own sins." (excerpt from ENCHIRIDION 19.72)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Galatians 5:1-6 Paul warned that they were taking their observance of the Law of Moses to an unhealthy extreme. They had lost sight of the fact that through his cross and resurrection, Jesus had fulfilled the just requirements of the Law. Circumcision was no longer necessary; what was necessary instead was “faith working through love,” the evidence of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:6).

Although we live in different times, we can still fall into a similar trap. We may not be concerned about Jewish ritual law, but there are plenty of other ways we can think that God’s grace isn’t enough to set us free. Maybe we think that we need to work extra hard to get his attention and approval. Maybe we treat Mass superstitiously, thinking that showing up every Sunday will guarantee us a place in heaven. Or perhaps we judge other people as worthy or unworthy based on our own criteria instead of seeing them through the eyes of divine mercy and love

Friar Jude Winkler explains how the Galatians, by choosing circumcision, will find themselves unable to be at peace with God. Our practice of prayer, fasting and almsgiving enlarges our capacity for embodiment of the Love of God. The inconsistency between our outside presentation and our inside intention is likely to bring us pride and selfishness, Friar Jude observes.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, uses examples from John Philip Newell, Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, and Etty Hillesum encouraging us to look life straight in the eye, to see its pain and to see its beauty. This is an essential part of glimpsing the way forward.

Knowing and naming brokenness is essential in the journey toward wholeness. We will not be well by denying the wrongs that we carry within us as nations and religions and communities. Nor will we be well by downplaying them or projecting them onto others. The path to wholeness will take us not around such awareness but through it, confronting the depths of our brokenness. . . . As Hildegard of Bingen [1098–1179] says, we need two wings with which to fly. One is the “knowledge of good,” and the other is the “knowledge of evil.” [1] If we lack one or the other, we will be like an eagle with only one wing. We will fall to the ground instead of rising to the heights of unitary vision. . .

Life lived minute by minute brings us into contact with all human circumstance. Our faith that God walks with us and graces us with the opportunity to be Love and work with Him enlarges our inner ability to serve and avoid hypocrisy, pride and selfishness.

References
(n.d.). Galatians chapter 5 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 16, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/galatians/5
(n.d.). Luke chapter 11 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 16, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/11
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved October 16, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 16, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved October 16, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 16, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/