Faith and Works

Readings for Monday February 16, 2009

First Reading:  Genesis 4:1-15, 25

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 50

Gospel:  Mark 8:11-13

Before my conversion to the Catholic Faith, I bought heavily into the protestant battle cry of "Sola fide" which says that we are justified by faith alone.  I like many protestants believed that it my salvation was based upon my belief in God and that was it.  Fortunately when I came home to the Church, I realized that it was not simply faith alone that I was justified by, but my works were also an important component as well.  

In today's first reading we see that instead of doing things God's way, Cain decides that he is going to do what he wants to do, so when offering a sacrifice to the Lord, he brings his best produce instead of the animal offering.  His brother Abel does as God wishes and brings the best of his flock, and God looks with favor on Abel and not on Cain.  Cain becomes very resentful and down because of this episode, and even despite God's warning about sin, Cain goes and does something regrettable by killing his brother Abel.  

Now, when we look at this event from the book of Genesis, it appears as if the things that we do matter quite a bit to God.  I don't think that Cain had any trouble believing in God since he was talking right to him, but regardless God did not look with favor upon Cain because he was not doing good works.  In fact, because Cain gave into sin, he was severely punished by God because of his bad works.  

In today's gospel we see a great lack of faith by the Jewish religious leaders of the time.  We see that the only way that they would believe that Jesus was God was to have a great sign.  They were completely blinded by His many miracles that He was performing all around them.  They were not satisfied with what He came to offer, and they demanded a greater sign that He came to offer.  But I am sure to the blind He made see, the mute who could now talk, to the sinners whose sins were forgiven, that was all the sign that they needed.  They came to believe in Jesus through their interactions with Him and through His healing touch.  

There is constantly great debate over who is right, the Catholics or the Protestants in regards to faith and works.  What we must remember is that they are both important, and ultimately it all comes from God.  So let us ask Him this day and all days to increase our faith in Him and to seek to do what He wills each and every day of our lives. 

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day.  We pray that you may continue to guide us where you will.  Help us to give you thanks and praise in all that we do.  Lord, please increase our faith so that we may follow and trust in you more.  Lord, help us to be your light in this world of darkness.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.