Happy are those
   who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
   or sit in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
   and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees planted by streams of water,
   which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
   In all that they do, they prosper.
 
The wicked are not so,
   but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
   nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
   but the way of the wicked will perish.
(Psalm 1:1–6 nrsv)

Early Christians debated what this psalm meant. Some thought it was about morals. They suggested that walking in the way of the righteous refers only to what we do. Others countered that “the way of the righteous” had more to do with belief than right actions.

Here, in the very first psalm, we already see a debate over the relationship between faith and works. Do right actions lead to right beliefs? Or the opposite? Are good works necessary for the one who believes? Or does belief by itself keep us on the way of the righteous?

Our Lutheran heritage emphasizes that without faith human nature cannot perform good works. God’s grace and faith alone place us on the way of the righteous and good works follow. These early Christian interpreters remind us how inseparable the two of them are.

Almighty God, by our baptism into the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, you turn us from the old life of sin. Grant that we who are reborn to new life in him may live in righteousness and holiness all our days, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(ELW p. 86)

Contributed by Philip
Monday October 21, 2013
Liturgical Year C: Week 47
Liturgical Color: Green
Sunday Gospel reading: Proper 24
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost