16 September 2018
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The epistle to the letter of James received the heave-ho from some protestant denominations since it gave the impression that salvation was caused by good works. James admonishes his readers that “faith without works is dead,” a quote often used and abused. The correct understanding of this quote comes from a reflective reading of the text. Faith, given by God and nourished by our free ascent and active participation has its fruit in works. God’s gift of grace and the very gift of salvation is given freely by God and is not earned. However, our response to that gift must be an attempt to imitate the life of Jesus who taught us by act and example to love God the Father and to love our neighbor. Therefore, good works are not the causes of salvation rather they are the necessary response to our life of faith. The two are joined together as Saint Ignatius clearly demonstrated in his Spiritual Exercises. The Exercises begin with the recognition of the greatness of God and our final end or purpose in this Divine Love as stated in the First Principle and Foundation. The Exercises end with the Contemplation to Attain Divine Love which identified the need for actions which demonstrate that love. Ignatius’s Exercises are a carefully planned set of meditations that help us both realize and act upon the two fundamental commandments of Christ: Love of God and love of neighbor. God’s free gift of salvation in Christ in unity with the Holy Spirit cannot be earned, but that gift does bear the responsibility to respond with the intention of the Giver.