Scripture:
3 John 5-8
Luke 18:1-8
Reflection:
"But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" Luke 18:8
Today’s readings call us to live a greater faith life outside of the church walls. Jesus calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Not just our next door neighbor, but also the strangers. A faith outside of us that is drenched in concern for the other. As it says in the James, What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. He says plainly, that our faith is nothing without good works.
During this Year of Faith we are given the opportunity to exhibit our faith in our actions. Through good works we are called to evangelize, to spread the message of God’s love and mercy through social justice. To recognize our social responsibility in that we are not independent of each other but one body and spirit in Christ. A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying," Blessed Pope John Paul II
Today is the feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary who is a shining example of a lay woman who put her faith into action. Of the Third Order of St. Francis, she devoted herself to works of charity and built a hospital where she cared for the sick until her death at the age of 24. She is the patroness for homeless people, widows, and dying children. St. Elizabeth cared for the most of vulnerable of her community. She is a guiding light to us on how to live our lives in service of each other.
The end of the Gospel poses a question to us: "But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" As we reflect today, let us think about what kind of faith others find in us. We are called to have an authentic commitment to God in faith, and then to go forth to live a life of love and generosity.
Kim Valdez is a Pastoral Associate at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas