Today's first reading continues our journey through the letter of James. The verses today focus upon a topic that was a point of controversy in the early 16th century between the Church and Martin Luther. The argument for salvation, the Church has always taught, is presented in two phrases: "faith alone" or "faith with works" or in a simple sentence from James: "See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."
The challenge for us is to be certain our faith is combined with works of service. This is a case of both having your cake and eating it too. For once they go together, the caking and enjoying it! We'd never know how good Grandma's cakes are unless we eat them. And if we don't eat them, we'd never know what it is that people call a cake.
We cannot have a living faith without our willingness to demonstrate that true faith involves both works and service. To live a life opting for one over the other might be like choosing Jesus the preacher without accepting the Crucifixion. Or, progressing, what is the value of the Crucifixion without the Resurrection?
For just as a body without spirit is dead,
so also faith without works id dead. (James 2:26)
