A. Opening Song [if done with others]
B. Opening Prayer: Come Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth you Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.
O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me. ... Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.” - Matthew 25: 40, 45.
D. Period of Silence: Personal integration of the reading
Today's Sharing:
"You too must wash each other's feet", the Lord tells the Apostles after He washed their feet during the Last Supper [John 13:14]. It is also during that time that He gave the command to love one another in accordance with the love that He gave them because through it others will know that they are His followers [John 13: 34-35]. As Christians we are also given these commands, to love one another and to wash each other's feet.
A debate between those who say that faith is enough to be saved and those who say that what is necessary is to perform good works is still raging. There are those who say that since we have been saved by the Lord through His passion, death and resurrection, it is enough that we accept Him as Lord and Savior. There are those who say that good works alone can save us because even if the Lord already died for us, we also have to do our part in order to become worthy of salvation. Faith in the Lord Jesus saves [see Acts 16:31] but "... faith without good deeds is dead." [James 2:20].
There really is no distinction anymore between faith and good works for a true Christian. His faith moves him or her to do good works and good works are the expressions of his or her faith. Hence providing food, water, clothing, shelter, company and support to those in need are true expressions of our faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and vice versa. No one who believes in and claims to follow the Lord would disregard those who are in need. And only those good works that are done in the name of and for the glory of God really matters for as the Lord told the rich young man, "Only God is good" [Mark 10:18].
Let us never separate faith and good works for they compliment each other. Without faith, good works degenerate into human initiatives that lead others to disregard the reality of God; while faith without good works become mere lip service.
"You too must wash each other's feet", the Lord tells the Apostles after He washed their feet during the Last Supper [John 13:14]. It is also during that time that He gave the command to love one another in accordance with the love that He gave them because through it others will know that they are His followers [John 13: 34-35]. As Christians we are also given these commands, to love one another and to wash each other's feet.
A debate between those who say that faith is enough to be saved and those who say that what is necessary is to perform good works is still raging. There are those who say that since we have been saved by the Lord through His passion, death and resurrection, it is enough that we accept Him as Lord and Savior. There are those who say that good works alone can save us because even if the Lord already died for us, we also have to do our part in order to become worthy of salvation. Faith in the Lord Jesus saves [see Acts 16:31] but "... faith without good deeds is dead." [James 2:20].
There really is no distinction anymore between faith and good works for a true Christian. His faith moves him or her to do good works and good works are the expressions of his or her faith. Hence providing food, water, clothing, shelter, company and support to those in need are true expressions of our faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and vice versa. No one who believes in and claims to follow the Lord would disregard those who are in need. And only those good works that are done in the name of and for the glory of God really matters for as the Lord told the rich young man, "Only God is good" [Mark 10:18].
Let us never separate faith and good works for they compliment each other. Without faith, good works degenerate into human initiatives that lead others to disregard the reality of God; while faith without good works become mere lip service.
F. Application of the Message
- Pray for the grace to integrate faith and good works in your life.
- What are you are willing to abstain from today as an expression of faith?
- What are you willing to share materially as your good work today?
G. Praying the Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
H. Closing Prayer: Here you say your personal thanksgiving to the Father for today’s message
i. Closing Song [if done with others]
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