Faith and Works (James 2: 14 and Mark 8:34 - 9:1)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if someone says he has faith but does not have works? 
James 2: 14


In today's Gospel, Jesus says, ""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." 


While Jesus was God, as man, I believe he had his doubts whether or not his Father would vindicate him in the end or whether or not all the suffering he had to go through would be worth it. Thus the sharp rebuke of Peter and the Agony in the Garden. In other words, Jesus had to have faith in his Father regarding the mission he was entrusted with. And this mission involved taking up his cross and losing his life.

So in a sense, Jesus is the perfect model of what James talks about in the first reading, faith that has works. Faith that is translated into action.