2020 - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Homily - Fr. James L. Nadeau

In today's Reading we have one of those controversies that has plagued religions. It is the "faith" versus "good works" controversy:

• Earlier Judaism VS Pharisees (Law Only)
• Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther

Jesus, in the Gospel reading, settles it for all times:  FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD!

Jesus does this by linking the two great commandments together. "The 2nd is like the 1st."

He is saying you cannot have one without the other. Love of neighbor springs naturally from genuine love of God. Love of God is demonstrated and strengthened in love of neighbor.

This is why we hear in the first reading: that true faith expresses itself in justice and mercy toward all, especially the downtrodden and needy. It should be unthinkable for us to mistreat anyone, particularly the defenseless. The horrors of ethnic cleansing, terrorism cannot be part of the Christian horizon/understanding.

This is why St. Paul, in the second reading, encourages the Thessalonians AND US to walk through the world and be its light, be a model for all believers. This is our calling > > > FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.

St. Ireneus put it this way, "As long as anyone has the means of doing good to his neighbor, and does not do so, he shall be reckoned a stranger to the love of the Lord."