Father Mike Schmitz

That is what true religion is all about.

And then we have, of course, we have this big teaching in James, which is faith without works is dead.

And this is really interesting.

I don't want to be polemical about this, but it is really important.

When St.

Paul is writing about works, he's talking about works of the law.

Remember that whenever St.

Paul is writing and he's saying, you're not justified by works, you're justified by faith.

Yes, he's talking about works of the law.

He's talking about Old Testament covenant.

The Old Testament covenant does not justify anyone.

The New Testament covenant is what justifies.

Jesus does justify us, right?

Again, through grace, we're justified.

We're saved by grace through faith.

Working itself out in love is the full formulation of the Catholic vision of what salvation really is.

Saved by grace, God's gift through faith.

Yes, that response to God's gift.

Working itself out in love because as scripture makes it absolutely clear today, faith without works is dead.

And that faith cannot save us.