Homily for the Week of September 16, 2012

24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, 2012 Year B Is 50: 5-9 Ps116: 19 James 2:14-18 Mark 8: 27-35 Most of us are curious to know a little more about those with whom we work, or in our classrooms, or live next door. Today there is an abundance of Internet sites known as social media through which persons can talk about themselves or others. Those who have cell phones or other technology can see these messages 24 hours a day if they wish. But an abundance of information does not necessarily mean that it can all be trusted, or that we should place our dignity or life on it. It may be unfortunate that we may have lost the joy of face to face conversation and relationships. In today’s Gospel Jesus is having a face to face conversation with Peter. Peter was concerned that Jesus was too harsh. He was turning people away. So he took Jesus aside and tried to persuade him to tone down his speeches a little. He then said to Peter: WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM? WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? Peter says that Jesus is the long, hoped for savior of the world. But Jesus was not quite satisfied with that answer. Jesus says it is great to have faith, but that is not enough. Our faith must be put in action by good deeds or good works. St. James in today's second reading talks about this. He says WHAT GOOD IS IT IF SOMEONE SAYS HE HAS FAITH BUT DOES NOT HAVE WORKS? FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD, James tells us. Martin Luther years ago use to preach that it did not matter what you did. All God wanted of you was to have faith. We must live what we believe, we must make decisions on what we believe; our spiritual life must be lived as Jesus lived. Otherwise, faith that does not affect how we live and how we act is quickly lost, and it cannot save us. Just as with Peter, Jesus takes us aside as asks us: WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? When we go to those who are suffering and those who are searching, and we give them joy, it is then that we carry out the good works of faith that St. James talks about. Doing this is also contagious. We receive in return many times more than we have given. We know that people often imitate bad behavior. But we should also know that people also imitate good behavior. Our faith is built on the shoulders of others. Most likely these are our parents, our teachers, our close friends our spouse. Specifically, in the case of St. James Parish, these shoulders are the very poor, homeless Irish immigrants who were invited to come to Cadyville about 158 years ago. Their faith has provided for us a building to worship God; a place where we can come to pray, or to be married, or have a child baptized, or be forgiven, and at the end of life, a place to be buried. This building is the GOOD WORK spoken of my Jesus today. The face of our Catholic Church here in the North Country is made up of people of all walks of life. Each year at this time we begin what is known as the Bishop’s Fund to help support the many spiritual and religious good works for the Catholics of our North Country. Many of you have already received communication on the Bishop’s Fund. They tell about the Faces of Faith of persons in Northern New York. You received a smaller version of this composite photograph. In it there are about 500 faces of North Country persons of faith. Like with Jesus and St.Peter, these faces all tell the story of faith in times of need: Hope in times of despair. Like the parents whose child was diagnosed with a heart defect but came to know the support of their friends and neighbors through a grant from the Bishop’s Good Samaritan Fund; Perseverance when times are difficult. Like the folks who participate Family Guggenheim, working hard to strengthen their marriages and families; Education in order to serve. Like the Seminarians and Commissioned Lay Ministers who study our faith so that they may serve in parishes across the diocese; Building foundations for life. Like the children in Catholic Schools and Religious Formation who are learning Christian values and the importance of bringing their gifts to the service of others. For Catholics charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could be left to others, but it is a part of our identity as Catholics. It is a description of who we are. Charity along with prayer and fasting are not options. How would you or I answer the question of Jesus today: WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?