There are some who accept the importance of faith, but reject the importance of works. Yet to this we heard from the Epistle of Saint James: “So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” When we die we will not present our works to God in order to threaten Him to what we are owed. Rather, our works are a response to faith. As the Gospel of Saint Matthew attests: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink.” “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, 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.” Here we can see the response that is required of us due to the fact that we are a people of faith. As we enter into the Lenten season may we find ways to perfect within us this response to the Gospel. Our faith calls us out of idleness and into the busyness of the world where we can bring Christ Jesus and His love and mercy to all those that we encounter.
