22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024

 

My father and mother, Philip and Barbara Looby.  My Dad coined a phrase: "You're wearing the beads and carrying the jacket!"

Growing up, my father had a saying that he’d say to me whenever he felt like I wasn’t following through with my commitments to clubs or activities like Boy Scouts, band, or chorus. 

He’d look at me and say, “Chris, you’re wearing the beads and carrying the jacket!” 

At first, I didn’t quite get it, but over time I realized what he meant. I was showing up—I had all the outward signs of being involved—but I wasn’t actually doing the work. I wasn’t fully committed to living out what it meant to be part of those groups.

I think that saying can apply to our lives as Christians too. We might wear the cross, come to Mass, and say our prayers, but are we really living out our faith in action? 

Or are we just “wearing the beads and carrying the jacket” without fully committing ourselves to the work of the Gospel?

In today’s readings, we hear a clear and powerful call—a call not just to listen to God’s word, but to live it. 

The letter of James tells us plainly: “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.” 

This one line cuts to the heart of what it means to be a Christian. Faith is not something we only believe in our minds or feel in our hearts. Faith is something we do, something we live. Today, we are invited to reflect on how our faith must translate into action.

Our first reading from Deuteronomy reminds us of the great gift God gave the people of Israel—His commandments. These commandments were more than just rules to follow; they were a way of life, a path to freedom and blessing. 

Moses tells the people, “Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations.” 

The wisdom and justice of God's law were meant to be a sign to the world—a witness to God’s closeness to His people. This witness of a life lived in accordance with God’s will is what we are called to as Christians today. 

But Jesus, in the Gospel, takes us even deeper. He challenges the Pharisees who were so focused on external rituals that they lost sight of what really matters: the heart. 

Jesus says, “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” 

He reminds us that true holiness begins within us—it’s about the state of our hearts, the purity of our intentions, and the actions that flow from them.

So, what does this mean for us, here and now? 

It means that our faith is not just something we profess on Sundays or during prayer. Our faith is meant to shape every part of our lives. It’s meant to lead us to action, to care for the world around us, and to put God’s love into practice.

In his letter, James tells us what this looks like in concrete terms: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” 

In other words, true religion—true faith in action—is found in how we care for the most vulnerable, how we reach out to those in need, and how we remain faithful to God’s call in a world full of distractions.

Here in our parish community, there are so many ways we can put our faith into action. We are blessed with opportunities to serve, to care, and to make a difference in the lives of others.

 Let’s take a moment to consider some of these opportunities:

St. Joseph’s Outreach Center in Treadwell Mills offers a beautiful way to live out this call. Whether through the thrift store or the soup kitchen, this ministry allows us to directly serve those who are struggling. Have you ever thought about volunteering your time there? Even a few hours can make a difference to someone in need.

The soup kitchen and thrift store at St. Augustine’s provide another opportunity to reach out to our neighbors in need. Jesus’ words in the Gospel today remind us that what truly matters is not how we appear to the world, but how we care for the most vulnerable in our midst. These ministries are a tangible way to show that our faith is alive and active.

Religious Education and Evangelization are also vital forms of faith in action. Sharing the faith with the next generation is one of the most important ways we can live out our calling as Christians. If you have a heart for teaching or for sharing your love for Christ, consider how you might get involved in our religious education program, which starts soon. Being a witness to the faith for our young people is a powerful way to act on what we believe.

And let’s not forget the countless acts of kindness and service that happen every day within our community. Whether it’s visiting someone who is sick, helping a neighbor in need, or simply being present to someone who is lonely, these small acts are profound expressions of faith in action.

The point is this: Faith isn’t something we keep to ourselves. It’s something we live out in the world, every day. And the beauty of our Christian faith is that it invites us to go beyond ourselves, to see the needs of others, and to respond with love.

But how do we keep ourselves “unstained by the world,” as James says? 

It’s not easy. We live in a world that constantly pulls us in different directions—toward selfishness, materialism, and division. But Jesus calls us to a different path. 

He calls us to let go of what the world tells us is important and to focus on what He tells us is essential: love, mercy, justice, and service.

So, as we reflect on today’s readings, I invite each of you to ask yourself: How am I living out my faith? 

Where is God calling me to put my faith into action? 

Maybe it’s through serving the poor, maybe it’s through teaching or mentoring, maybe it’s through acts of kindness that only you and God will ever see. 

Whatever it is, know that every small act of love and service is a way of living out the Gospel.

Let’s not be just wearing the beads and carrying the jacket!

Let’s be doers of the word, not hearers only. Let’s live our faith with joy, with courage, and with generosity. And as we do, we will truly be living in the presence of the Lord, just as the psalmist says today: “The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.”