The Righteousness Of Faith

 

Our faith guarantees us a place in the heart of God.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Saturday of 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, October 21st, 2023
Texts: Romans 4:13.16-18; Psalm 105:6-9,42-43; Luke 12:8-12 

St. Paul reminds us, today, that it is when our faith makes us righteous that we inherit God's promise. He reveals this when he affirms that the promise to Abraham and his descendants came through the righteousness of faith. Hence, it is those whose faith makes righteous that are heirs of God’s promise. What is this promise? For Abraham and his descendants it was the world. For us it is the eternal life. The promise of eternal life comes to us through the righteousness of faith in Jesus Christ. Righteous living is key if we are to partake in eternal life.

The dependency of the promise on faith has two outcomes: 1. It makes it rest on grace, not on what we do or the law; 2. It makes it universal. In the words of St. Paul: “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham”.  

Our faith guarantees us a place in the heart of God

St. Paul emphasises the faith of Abraham, not the faith in Abraham. The faith of Abraham is the faith in God who justifies the ungodly. It is such faith that is the guarantee of God’s promise, the eternal life.  Our faith is not that of Abraham until it justifies us. We have the faith of Abraham when our faith makes us righteous. If our faith does not make us righteous, it is not in God who justifies the ungodly. Such faith cannot guarantee the promise of eternal life.   

Our faith guarantees us a place in the heart of God, for by it we acknowledge Jesus Christ, His Son. Jesus Christ assures us thus: “Every one who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also will acknowledge before the angels of God”.  

By our faith we also honour the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in and through us. Jesus says, “he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." The presence of Holy Spirit in us guarantees us eternal life, the promise of God.

Prayer 

God our Father, we thank You for making us righteous by our faith in You; may we always live righteously and truly be Your children, the Lord of righteousness.  Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke