24th Sunday In Ordinary Time 

Isaiah 50:5-9
Psalm 114(116):1-6,8-9
James 2:14-18
Mark 8:27-35

Faith without good works is dead!
Christianity without suffering is false!

In the 16th century, Martin Luther, a young Catholic German friar, experienced a crisis that led to what is known today as the Protestant Reformation. One of the central issues Luther raised was the question of justification by God.

He concluded that justification with God occurs through faith alone. However, the Catholic position emphasizes that faith must be reflected in good works. The letter of St. James, read at Mass, reinforces this teaching by stating that faith without works is dead.

The question of how one becomes righteous and acceptable to God has been a controversial and important issue, even from the earliest days of the Church. Faith is undeniably crucial; without it, it is impossible to please God.

However, since humans are both body and soul, it is necessary to love and serve God with both. Our faith should not only be a spiritual act but should also manifest itself in our physical lives.

Catholicism acknowledges the need for faith to express itself in the physical world. The seven sacraments and sacramentals provide opportunities to build and express faith in the material world. Physical gestures such as the sign of the cross carry spiritual significance, and sacramentals like holy water serve as reminders of our faith.

In the church, physical actions such as genuflecting symbolize our spiritual beliefs, such as the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Regularly making the sign of the cross during Mass not only serves as a prayer but also reinforces our faith. In summary, the integration of physical actions with spiritual beliefs underscores the core values of Catholicism.

Fr Joseph Osho