Even the Hairs of Your Head Have all Been Counted

Today's Mass Readings

The first reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans continues Paul’s reflection on the relationship of Gentiles (non-Jews) to the Christian faith. In making his theological argument in today’s passage, Paul turns to Abraham as a model of faith. This move – the emphasis on faith as righteousness, apart from works – enables Paul to argue that Abraham is the father of both the Gentiles and the Jews, the uncircumcised as well as the circumcised (as reflected in 4:11-14 of Romans). And what does circumcision have to do with works? By “works” Paul’s means works of the law – not simply good deeds, but rather those actions prescribed by Jewish law, such as circumcision. Paul argues that it is not strict adherence to Jewish law that saves, but faith in God. The gospel reflects a similar concern; in the gospel passage immediately preceding this one, we hear Jesus criticizing the Pharisees for strictly following the laws for worship and practice while at the same time neglecting charity toward those in need. Hence Jesus warns the people to beware of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and he redirects the people’s concern.

Respect belongs to God, who has the power to damn. Fear should not
be a response to the Pharisees and their legal strictures, but rather, fear and awe are a response to God – a God who knows every sparrow and who counts the hairs on our heads. After Jesus tells the people, “Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna,” he later, more reassuringly says, “Do not be afraid.” On the one hand, God is awesome and deserving of fear and respect. Yet at the same time, our God is
compassionate, loving and personal; he knows the number of hairs on our heads and wants salvation for each one of us. Hence our God does not seek to make life as difficult as possible by heaping rule upon rule onto us. He asks us to have faith, as the psalm says: “I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.” Jesus moreover asks us to live lives of faith, out of which naturally spring good works, such as
almsgiving.

Let us pray that our faith may be strengthened, that we may more fully witness to the joy of salvation by our charity among all people!