Faith-Work: Not controversy but complementarity

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

 October 17, 2019: Remembering St. Ignatius of Antioch

Romans 3: 21-30; Luke 11: 47-54

One is justified by faith apart from the works of law - this was, is and will ever be a point of contention. In the Old Testament times it was a contention between the 'conservative' and the 'progressive' rabbinic schools; in Jesus' times between him and the Jewish religious heads; in the times of the early Christians it was a contention between those who followed the Pauline theology and those who believed the theology of James; today it continues between the Catholics and the non Catholics! 

Amidst all the contention foreseen, needless to say our point of reference is Jesus: 'Don't put your trust in your capacity to achieve things and to gain control or dominance', warns Jesus, 'become like children!' That is, respect the primacy of faith! Jesus also declared, 'when you did this to one of these little ones, you did it to me!' That is, the necessity of works! 

In Jesus' terms, faith is that capacity to live totally dependent on God and do all that we can do, primarily as instruments in the hand of God - an attitude diametrically opposed to pride and arrogance of work alone, and practically a corrective to passivity and timidity of faith alone! 

What Jesus teaches against is, empty ritualism, legalistic spirituality and hypocritical religiosity! St. Ignatius of Antioch, whom we celebrate today says that in very simple words, "it is not that I want merely to be called a Christian, but to actually be one. Yes, if I prove to be one, then I can have the name." Works manifest my faith, faith makes my works efficacious!