Wednesday, January 25 (12), 2023

Js. 3:11-4:6; Mk. 11:23-26

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can this faith save him?” [James 2:14].  The way to faith is through repentance.  And what kind of idea would one have in repentance? “I have sinned; I will not sin any longer”.  “Will not sin” means “will live by God’s commandments”.

When faith enters into the heart, repentance never leaves it, but joins the faith and stays forever, together with the resolve to live by God’s commandments.  Hence a believer who has come to faith by the straight way of repentance spares no pains to follow the commandments, that is, to do good works.  His faith gives him the strongest motivations for that; his faith also gives him sufficient energy through the holy Sacraments of the Church.  That’s how good works get advanced by faith.

On the other hand, faith is made perfect by good works: for until the object of your faith is actually put into effect, your faith is in a sense not real enough.  Faith becomes tangible and strong in doing good; good works feed back and fortify your faith.

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