Gems From The Antipodes

JASPER

Book of Revelation 21:11 as follows: “It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.”  The name means “spotted or speckled stone”, and is derived from Greek iaspis, (feminine noun).

Walk the Walk

A measure of our growth in faith is the way we live.  Towards the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “ Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).  Discerning what is God’s will for us is a constant challenge.  The Ten Commandments provide a basic rule of life; and the Sermon on the Mount represents a development of the old law, which Jesus said He had come to fulfil, or perfect, or complete; and above all His teachings were that the whole law could be summarised in terms of love.

A sign of the authenticity and depth of faith is that it flows over into a life of love, and is translated into good works.  St. Paul speaks of “faith working through love” (Galatians 5:9).  In  1John 3:18, we read, “Let us not love in word or speech, but in deed and in truth,” that is, our love should not be just words or talk, but must be sincere and show itself in action.  James in his letter tells us “faith apart from good works is dead” (James 2:26).  This is the conclusion to an argument in which he asks what good is it for someone to say he has faith if his actions do not prove it. Such faith will not save a person, James warns.  “If a brother or sister is ill or naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving the things needed for the body, what does it profit?  So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (James 2:14-17).  Jesus’ dramatic description of the final judgement (Matthew 24: 31-46) also reminds us that judgement rests on the performance or non-performance of good works.

Sometimes it can appear that “unbelievers” show more faith by their exemplary lives and works of charity than some who profess to be Christian.  By following their conscience they respond to God’s call even though they might be quite unaware of God or any call.  It is true that not all works of charity or virtuous living are signs of faith, but they at least indicate closeness to God that is only a step removed from faith.  On the other hand, many believers show the weakness of their faith by their frequent failure in the area of love of neighbour.

Finally, faith is the way we respond to God, as God is revealed to us in our daily lives.  It is a dynamic relationship, a living and continual encounter with God, whereby we grow continually in our knowledge of God and God’s will for us, and commit ourselves to live our lives accordingly.  Faith is the basis of our life with God in this world.  In the next life, it will give way to vision, when we shall see and know God face to face.