One of the beautiful ministries we have in our parish is called the Prayer Shawl Ministry. There are a group of women who gather once a month, and they knit or crochet these beautiful prayer shawls or lap blankets that they give to men and women who are in need of comfort and prayer. Many of the people who have received them have talked about how comforted they feel when they wrap themselves in those prayer shawls, remembering that they are loved by God and remembered by this faith community. I remember giving one to a dear cousin of mine, Charles, when he was sick and suffering with cancer. More than once, he told me how when he was anxious or nervous or afraid or just not feeling well, he would wrap that shawl around him, and he would feel great comfort and peace, thinking that I and our community were praying for him. The ladies who make the shawls often say that these are really hugs from God and from the community of faith, in the form or the shape of a prayer shawl.

I share that story with you today because in the second reading, there’s a challenging question. Are we saved by our faith or works? Certainly, as we believe in Christ and believe that Christ will bring us one day to share eternal life, we’re challenged not only to profess faith with words, but we show evidence of our faith by our actions. The question today really isn’t so much, are we saved by faith or works? It’s not faith or works. It’s faith and works. Faith and works. With our faith in Jesus is what saves us and brings us one day home to God. Today, as we think about the words of the scripture readings, let’s remember that we can’t focus on one without the other. It’s not faith or works, it’s faith and works.