Some tough readings today, all about action. Can’t just talk the talk; rather, gotta walk the walk.

Isaiah tells of real hardship for following the Lord. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. Really raw suffering, for his faith. And St. James asks us, What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? He says that just wishing the poor and hungry a good day doesn’t do them any good. It’s feeding them and clothing them, not just sympathizing but comforting, actually providing, that counts. And Christ tells us:

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it.

I think about these things and wonder: how much is enough? And I know that however much I think is enough, it’s not enough.

And but then I think of poor Martin Luther and justification by faith alone.

So, as I see it, you gotta walk the walk. It doesn’t count. But you gotta walk it anyway.