The Rambler

  24TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B] Some questions require an either/or response? Do you prefer Coke or Pepsi? Do you root for the Wolverines or the Spartans? It has to be one or the other—either/or. Then we have to consider the question being raised in James chapter two: are we justified by faith or by works? It sounds like we are dealing with yet another either/or question. In fact, that is exactly how the question has been handled down through the centuries.  However, in more recent times, the question has taken on a new shape, a new structure. Now it’s being answered as “both/and” rather than “either/or.”  It’s generally agreed that we are in fact justified by faith. But are we talking real faith? Or something artificial? How can you distinguish a real faith from an artificial faith? According to James, in order to be real, your faith has to be a manifested faith (2:14-26). If it’s being manifested through the carrying out of good works, then it will qualify as an authentic faith.

  23RD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B] I’ll begin by linking the miracle of Mark chapter seven with the prophecy outlined in Isaiah chapter thirty five. In other words, our Gospel passage this weekend seems to build upon our selection from the Old Testament. Jesus issues the command: BE OPENED (Mk. 7:34)! It’s an expression that can be applied on more than one level. In this particular case, it refers to the opening of an ear canal. But the command BE OPENED can likewise be applied to an impaired voice box or an impaired eye socket (see Matt. 12:22).  We can widen the application further by focusing upon the subject of the human heart. We hear about the opening of eye sockets, ear canals, and voice boxes. And yet, all too often, the problem has more to do with the heart (see Mk. 7:21-23). Note this weekend’s second reading. James includes this message about partiality because hearts are sealing shut when they should be opening wide (2:1-5). Instead of being locked, these hearts need to be