Readings:

 

Overview:  From this week’s readings we learn that following the Lord involves not only belief and practice - or “faith and works” - but self-sacrifice. The first reading is called the “Third Suffering Servant Song” of Isaiah (the other servant songs can be found in Isaiah 42:1-7; 49:1-6 and 52:13 – 53:12). Here, the suffering servant is determined to follow the path of God. He ‘sets his face like flint’ and does not run away from his enemies, but allows himself to be mocked and abused. This prophesy, fulfilled in Christ, shows just how far God is willing to go to save us; for the suffering servant, Christ, the second person of the Trinity, is none other than God himself. The second reading teaches how faith by itself is worthless. We must live what we believe. Good works, apart faith will not save us; but faith, when it is true, will produce good works as naturally as fragrance flows from a flower. In this week’s gospel Peter’s profession of faith – “you are the Christ!” – must be acted upon and so Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Faith by itself will not save you. Like Peter, we must each take up our own cross and follow Christ in the path of self-sacrifice and communion, which leads to eternal life.

 

Key verse: “Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17)

 

 

Pope Benedict XVI: “Truth is the light that gives meaning and value to charity. That light is both the light of reason and the light of faith, through which the intellect attains to the natural and supernatural truth of charity: it grasps its meaning as gift, acceptance, and communion. In the truth, charity reflects the personal yet public dimension of faith in the God of the Bible, who is both Agápe and Lógos: Charity and Truth, Love and Word.” [Caritas in Veritate, 3]

 

Application: Faith is like a plant, the ‘seed’ of which is sown in baptism and nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ. Love is the first and greatest fruit of faith (see Gal. 5:22).  Whether they be spiritual or corporal, works of mercy all involve acts of charity that are the blossoms of faith. You might ask yourself: “How has my faith grown? What ‘fruit’ has it produced? What does my life “smell” like? Does it have any fragrance at all?”