6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

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“Take me as your pattern, just as I take Christ for mine” (1 Cor 11:1)

This week's reading are as follows:

[Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46] [1 Corinthians 10:31—11:1] [Mark 1:40-45]

In the first reading today, we read how a leprous man is considered unclean and must live in isolation outside the community.

In the second reading, Paul invite us to “Take me as your pattern, just as I take Christ for mine” (1 Cor 11:1) and “Whatever you eat, then, or drink, and whatever else you do, do it all for the glory of God”

The Gospel reading today, we see how a leprous man came to Jesus and asked Him for healing. The man said “If you are willing, you can cleanse me” (Mk 1:40) which really tell us that the man knew that Jesus is God and that He can cure him of his disease.

Being a compassionate man, Jesus of course cured the man. He told the man not to tell anyone but to show himself to the priest. Instead, the man proclaim freely and Jesus was no longer able to go openly into any town but to deserted spots. People from every corner is seeking Jesus…

How ironical that the leprous man who was supposed to be insolated is now back in the community when Jesus cured him. Yet, Jesus is now forced to be isolated because the man proclaimed freely how Jesus had cured him. What a reversal of situations….

So, with Paul’s invitation in mind, are we prepared to be like Jesus and Paul to serve our communities? Do we must provide comfort and aid to others during their times of physical duress?

And like the man Jesus cured, we are also called to share our own experience of spiritual healing, and more importantly to introduce the “Great Physician,” Jesus Christ to people around us.

Our sharing of experiences and our act of love by deed will result in people everywhere corner coming to seek out Jesus……and that’s evangelizing.

Why salvation is by faith and deeds.

Image via WikipediaPaul and James or any of the apostles are simply teaching us what Jesus has taught them. Let’s take a look now at what the teachings are about:

In MT 22:34-40, Jesus clearly sum up the commandments for us into 2. That is to love God and to love our neighbour.

In MT 25 31:46, Jesus tells us what are the criteria of entering into Heaven. The criteria such as feeding, clothing visitations are all deeds of love, compassion and charity. If one has shown such deeds to one’s neighbour, one has shown love to God. Thus both the commandments are fulfilled.

In MT 7:21-27 , Jesus also warned us that not all who call “Lord…Lord…” will enter into Heaven. It is not lips service that He wants. He said a true disciple are those who hear the words and act on it. Not those who hear but do nothing.

In the story of the good thief, one can see clearly that the thief was saved by faith and deeds. While in the midst of his own misery, he not only said that he believed that Jesus is the Son of God, he showed his beliefs by standing up (read…good deed) for Jesus when the other thief mock Jesus. Is he saved by faith alone with no deeds?

So what does Paul teaches us? Paul teaches us that faith is very important as his letters are addressed to newly converts, he stress the importance of having Christ. Without Christ, no salvation is possible. No matter how hard one works, he has no salvation unless he has Christ.

Never did Paul said faith alone will save. Neither did he ever said works is not needed.

Does Paul thinks that he is saved already? Is he working towards it?
Reading RN 8:18-25, Philippians 2:12-18 and 3:8-15 may give us some clues.

Is James contradicting Paul?

Of course not, unless you mistaken what Paul is saying in the first place. Why James said what he did in chapter 2 is to remind Christians that they need to have deeds or their faith is useless. It is also to address those who have misunderstood Paul. God is not looking for lips service.

James made it very clear and simple that faith alone does not save. Why? Because without deeds, faith is useless and such faith cannot save. Only by deeds can one show one’s faith and only such faith can lead to salvation.

As to questions of what is deeds, I think we can safely refer back to the words we hear from Jesus - that is, the 2 most important commandment (which will lead us to salvation).

As to questions of how many deeds is required, it’s an irrelevant question.
The importance really is on “effect of the Law engraved on their hearts”. It is about making the act of loving, compassion and charity a part of our Christian life – not by words alone, but by living it out (read…doing, deeds, act on it) from your heart.