Upright in Truth

A Reflection on the Second Reading for September 12th, 2021:
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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James
2.14-18

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?

If a brother or a sister is without clothing and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
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If faith is necessary for salvation, but by itself is lifeless, what is it about works that makes faith come alive?

Faith is one of the three foundational theological virtues (with hope and love) that dispose Christians to relationship with God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines faith as the “theological virtue by which we believe in God [...] because He is Truth itself. By faith man freely commits his entire self to God.” (1814) “The gift of faith remains in one who has not sinned against it. Faith apart from works is dead when it is deprived of hope and love.” (1815)

It’s hard to imagine someone claiming to be faithful while never once displaying any loving or virtuous behavior to others. Can you think of someone? You could assert that they didn’t have any faith at all, or assume whatever faith they once had is now long gone or dead. You might consider them a hypocrite for their pretension of goodness without “acting like it”. Why does one act this way? Most don’t intend to be hypocritical, but it is quite distasteful to witness this tendency in ourselves or another person.

Pope Francis recently addressed this in one of his general audiences, in helping his audience understand what hypocrisy is: “It can be called the fear of the truth. A hypocrite is afraid of the truth. It is better to pretend rather than be yourself. It is like [...] putting makeup on how to proceed: this is not the truth. “No, I am afraid of proceeding like I am…,” For this reason, [...] a hypocrite does not know how to love. They limit themselves to living out of egoism and do not have the strength to show their hearts transparently.”

There is always an internal cause for external behavior, and I think this is what Pope Francis is trying to get at. If God himself is Truth, then a faith where one is afraid of truth would lack something significant.

Faith without action is self-preserving: I believe God exists, but I am not moved to act. There is a God, but I have not yet allowed Him to touch me because I am afraid.

Action without faith is self-promoting. I see others and situations as opportunities to advance what I deem true and valid, and will not surrender my purposes to God.

Faith that is alive and well stands upright in the presence of Truth. It is found in a person that is not afraid because they are secure in Love. It need not be self-defined, defensive, or pretend to be something it’s not. It is regenerative. It gives life to others through giving itself away. It is free to move where the Spirit sends it, buoyed by its companion virtues of hope and love.



Lord, I believe. Increase my faith. Grant me grace to live transparently. Heal all wounds that impede my freedom to do so.




​Michelynne Gomez
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