John 14:6-14

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Psalm 19:2-3. 4-5

John 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you know me, then you will also know my Father.

From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him,

“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time

and you still do not know me, Philip?

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.

The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,

or else, believe because of the works themselves.

Amen, amen, I say to you,

whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,

and will do greater ones than these,

because I am going to the Father.

And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,

so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, throughout the year, I contemplate the example of the saints. They were holy men and women who sought to heed your word and accomplish your will. I pray that I, too, may live a holy life like the saints and be attentive to the action of the Holy Spirit in my life.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Life and Letter of James: James was an apostle and a cousin of Jesus. He was the son of Cleopas and Mary. Cleopas, who was also known as “Alphaeus,” was Joseph’s brother. James became the first bishop of Jerusalem and was known as “James the Just.” He is known as “James the Less” because Mark referred to him as “James the Younger” (see Mark 15:40). As the bishop of Jerusalem, he accepted the teaching of Peter at the Council of Jerusalem in A.D. 49. He was martyred thirteen years after the meeting in Jerusalem in A.D. 62. He was likely the author of the Letter of James found in the New Testament. In the Letter, “James emphasizes the importance of patience while suffering, exhorts his readers to refrain from showing partiality to their favorites, and discusses the relationship between faith and works in the Christian life. He also encourages prudence in speech. In the final chapter of James, the author discusses the significance of anointing the sick and confession of sins” (Cavins, Morrow, Rocha, Swafford, A Catholic Guide to the New Testament, 271-272).

2. Faith without Works is Useless: “A predominant theme of this letter is the strict relationship between faith and works (especially 2:14-26). For James, a saving faith does not consist simply believing that God exists, but must be ‘completed by the works’ (2:22) that accord with faith. Mere belief without corresponding action (2:15-16) – ‘faith alone’ (2:24) – does not justify, but is ‘dead’ and ‘useless’ (2:17, 20, 26). Instead, faith must be accompanied by conduct that manifests the new life in Christ” (Anderson and Keating, James, First, Second, and Third John, 8).

3. James and Paul: It is possible that James wrote his letter to the Church as a response to a misunderstanding of Paul’s writings on faith. In his letters, Paul was countering the Judaizers, who wanted Gentile Christians to be circumcised and observe the rituals of the Law of Moses. Paul also emphasized that salvation is received initially as a gift from God and is not a human achievement. What James adds about the need for our faith to flourish in works of charity is in perfect accord with Paul’s doctrine about “faith working through charity” (Galatians 5:6). James puts his readers on guard against greed and the love of money. We also need to control our tongue and not fall into sins of cursing (3:9-10), slander (4:11-12), and boasting (4:16). “Finally, James instructs his readers to conduct themselves with gentleness and mercy (2:13; 3:17) and to pray, no matter the circumstances they find themselves in (5:13-18)” (Anderson and Keating, James, First, Second, and Third John, 9).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, help my faith flourish in works of love today. Show me your face so that I may see the Face of the Father. Move my heart to spend time with you and dwell with you so that I may bring others to encounter you.

Living the Word of God: Is there anyone in my family or workplace that I can bring to Jesus through my words and actions? What good works are evidence of my faith in Jesus?