28th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 19thOctober 2023 – Romans 3,21-29; Lk 11,47-54
Only Faith Justifies
The first reading presents the very heart of Paul’s letter. Here, Paul discusses how a person is made “righteous” or “justified” in God’s eyes. He explains that salvation comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is the only thing which can lead us to have an eternal life with God. He begins by saying that the “righteousness of God” was formerly made known through the Law and the Prophets, i.e., through the Old Testament. “Righteousness” or “Justice” refers to God’s inherent goodness and infinite love extended to every single human being. According to Old Testament understanding, we are “righteous” when we are totally in harmony with God’s justice as revealed in the Law. However, now with the coming of Jesus Christ and especially through his death and resurrection, righteousness is given through faith in Christ to all who believe in him as Lord and Saviour. Faith is first and foremost a gift from God. It is not anything we can earn or merit. The Law was originally meant to be a guideline to demonstrate that God was gifting people with faith. But, now Paul asserts that no one can obey the totality of the law, because all have sinned. The law has become the vehicle of condemnation, not justification. No one can boast that they have saved themselves. It is only God who saves through Jesus Christ and it is only God who gives the gift of faith. Once we accept the faith given by God, then we can live a life of justification that comes from God.
