Faith, Works, and Lent

Everyone is well aware that Lent is here.  After all, we know its presence because national fast food chains begin serving their version of the fish sandwich solely during this season.  Our restaurant economy seizes every opportunity to fill us in spite of our dietary proscriptions!

From another angle, however, Lent is about lots more than simply not eating meat.  Lent is the liturgical season in which the Church urges us to grow in faith.  This post, then, is to share the same thoughts that I gave at our parish's RCIA gathering this past Sunday morning.  The point that I made to inquirers was that faith affects and effects one's life, sometimes in dramatic ways.

I had six primary points.  Each of these points was to remind the listeners of things they may have forgotten, and to inspire that group to work toward their redemption and eternal destination.  Perhaps they'll be of benefit to readers, too.

First, faith is tested by suffering.  A person of faith will "meet various trials."  Those trials will produce steadfastness, and the "full effect" of steadfastness is that persons "may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (Jas. 1:2-4).  The first letter of St. Peter teaches us similarly.  Followers of Christ will "suffer various trials" for a short period of time compared to eternity.  These tribulations are to make known that a person's faith is "more precious than gold."  Finally, the letter states, "As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls" (1 Pt. 1:6-9).

Second, we begin to pray more fervently while we are cultivating faith.  Again, the letter of St. James provides biblical evidence of this concept.  "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God...But let him ask in faith...."  A person who desires to grow in faith knows that he cannot do so on his own.  He knows that he needs assistance from the Divine; and he knows that God "gives to all men generously" (Jas. 1:5-6).  So, he prays.

Third, by faith, one's life becomes active and takes on an outward focus.  When faith takes root in us, and begins to grow, we begin to realize that it must have a concrete and active expression.  This is why St. James queries: "What doe it profit...if a man says he has faith but has not works?  Can his faith save him?"  Then, St. James answers his own question: "For as the body apart from teh spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead" (Jas. 2:14-26).  People of faith are constantly working to cultivate their relationship with God.  They pray, read the Sacred Scriptures, receive the Sacraments, and perform the spiritual and corporal works of mercy (see CCC 2447).  Faith is like a person's soul, and works are like a person's body.  The person needs both to be alive.

Fourth, the virtue of faith and the works that it elicits from us helps us to develop a shield against Satan.  Remember that our "adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion," so we must resist him and stand firm in our faith (1 Pt. 5:8-9).  Too often we fall prey to temptation, and so we sin.  We become "estranged [from Christ] and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds."  The antidote to this, says St. Paul, is to "continue in the faith, stable and steadfast" (Col. 1:21-23).  This is why St. Paul writes, "above all taking the shield of faith, which which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one" (Eph. 6:16).

Fifth, we must always work to sustain and grow our faith.  We know that faith increases and decreases according to the effort that we put in (or lack thereof).  St. Paul told the Church at Philippi to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, bot to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:12-13).  He told the man he mentored and ordained as a bishop: "Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called..." (1 Tim. 6:12).  Once we become complacent in faith; once we think that we've won the fight, we begin to backslide.  Then, we fall prey more easily to the "flaming darts of the devil" discussed above.

Sixth, and finally, it is important to note that faith is our salvation.  Following his first teaching letter to St. Timothy, Paul wrote again.  The second time, he noted, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7).  This is also why he wrote to the Church of Rome and remarked, "Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand..." (Rom. 5:1-2).  We ought to head St. Paul's words well: "For by grace you have been saved through faith...For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:1-10).  Without faith, the good works that God wants us to do will leave us unfulfilled, outside the fulness of God's plan for us.

This all connects very well to Lent.  We see each of these six points fully during the season that is both penitent and joyful at the same time.  How?

We suffer during Lent (point #1).  We are asked to fast and to give up certain worldly pleasures.  This mortification of our senses helps us to rely more fully on God.  Most of us have to pray to get through the hunger of absence of noise from the television (point #2).  The Church also suggests almsgiving as the third part of the "Lenten penance plan."  Almsgiving, whether saying prayers or donating money or making meals, is always directed toward other people (point #3).  As we begin to grow closer to God, as we begin to do what He asks, the Enemy begins to tempt us in more cunning ways.  We need a shield in order to thwart is tireless efforts (point #4).  If we forget even for one moment what God wants, or if we forget what our plan is, Satan can catch us and bind us.  We can never become lazy because Satan and his minions are never lazy, especially during Lent (point #5).  Should we falter, we can rest assured that our efforts don't determine the outcome.  Christ has already won the victory!  It is our faith in Him that brings us back to His side and allows us to finish the race.  He is strong, even when we are weak (point #6).

I ask for your prayers during Lent, and I promise you my own.  Blessings to all!