Faith, Grace, and Good Works

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Faith, Grace, and Good Works

Jesus said, “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?  And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?  And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’  Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25, 34-46)

Are good works critical for salvation?  In his message to his apostles related by St. Mathew, Jesus was clear and emphatic that good works are necessary for salvation.

Catholics believe that eternal salvation is not merited, but rather is a pure gift from God. It is by God’s grace that one can be welcomed into heaven.  Without faith no amount of good works by a human will enable a person to attain the beatific vision. For without faith one is lost. Yet, it is clear by the words and actions of Jesus Christ during his life that good works follow upon faith and are necessary for salvation. Jesus was very clear in his description of those who would inherit the kingdom and those who would not.  St. Matthew’s description of Jesus addressing his followers during which He urges them to take care of “the least of my brethren” is a decisive admonition for mankind to follow faith with good works. If Catholics have faith in Jesus, but do not follow his examples and his teachings, then can they reasonably expect to attain heaven? No!  Anyone who has contemplated on the life of Jesus and His teachings will inevitably conclude that both faith and good works are necessary for eternal life.

Jesus clearly identified the two commandments that are required for eternal life with him….love God with one’s whole heart, mind, and soul and love one’s neighbor as one’s self. Loving your neighbor requires not only good intentions but also good works. Heroic virtue is not necessary, but everyone is able to contribute to the welfare of one’s neighbor in small ways. It may with a kind word, a helping hand, a sharing of a meal, or any number of seemingly inconsequential words or actions by which one provides a kindness for another human being.

There was no ambiguity in Jesus’ teaching.  Love God ….and love one’s neighbor. Loving requires action on our part.

The Saints

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The Saints

As he lay in his bed, the youngster stared at the ceiling and then occasionally he would cast glances at the walls of his room. Everywhere he looked, on the ceiling and on the walls, there were pictures of athletic stars that he admired….and hoped to emulate. He so deeply desired to excel in athletic endeavors; it was only the best players whom he admired and wished to copy. Would he be able to achieve the athletic accomplishments of the persons whose images were staring at him from his ceiling and walls? He had decided to follow their examples as he pursued his athletic goals. They were the best, the most successful in their sports; the ones worth his effort to follow.

Whether it be in sports, business, or politics most people who seek success in their careers use successful individuals as models on how to attain their own goals. Many successful individuals do inspire and provide guidance and motivation to others desiring to fulfill their ambitions. Often young married couples use their parents as guides for the raising of their own children, though on some issues they may choose to differ from the practices of their parents. Nonetheless, parents often offer solid models for parenting. In so many aspects of life, it is appropriate to copy those whom one visualizes as having been successful in their endeavors.

In religious matters, Christians have the perfect example and guide for achieving holiness — Jesus Christ. However, there are other individuals who also provide not only examples of holiness, but also who can offer help and encouragement to those seeking holiness. Saints, both those who have died and those still alive, are the best friends and mentors to those of us seeking a close and endearing relationship with God. The word saint literally means “holy,” and, in the New Testament, saint referred to all who believed in Jesus Christ and followed his teachings. Saints are not just those who have received some recognition for their devotion to God, but also all those many who follow God without securing any human recognition. They can be a parent, a sibling, a friend, a teacher, or anyone who has demonstrated a love for God.

In the Catholic and Orthodox churches, the images of saints, those individuals who have received formal recognition of their holiness and heroic virtue, may be visible in paintings, on stained glass windows, and in statues. All of these images are meant to inspire others to understand that following God can be accomplished by anyone who is willing to ardently pursue Him. Catholic and Orthodox members do not adore these images or statues, but rather use them as examples of persons to be emulated and sources of help in their search for God.

In pagan times, statues and other images were frequently adored as gods themselves, not just images of individuals who demonstrated a strong commitment to God. This is not the case in Catholic and Orthodox faiths; there is no adoration or worshiping of the images or statues. Saints, similar to the athletic heroes of the youngster, are serious, positive examples for Catholics to admire and follow their examples in seeking God. Saints are models of holiness for all of us to follow, not gods to be worshiped.

Some Suggested Readings

“Lumen Gentium” is a document issued as a result of Vatican II, in Chapter 2 there is a discussion of the roles of saints, both living and deceased.

G.K. Chesterton’s single volumes on the lives of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Francis of Assisi

There are numerous volumes in existence concerning saints from the apostles to modern day saints. Among the modern day saints are Pope John Paul II, Sr. Elizabeth Ann Seaton, St Jose Maria Escriva, and others. Every saint is unique; the principal point of commonality is their love of God.