Make a Statement with Your Actions. 02/08/2026. Chima Offurum. 

This Sunday’s liturgy draws our attention to the practical dimensions of Christian discipleship. We are familiar with the theological virtues of FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE, taught throughout Scripture, especially in First Corinthians (13:13), and affirmed by the Church’s Catechism as the bedrock of the Christian life. Each time we recite or sing the Creed, we publicly profess our faith. However, a profession alone is not enough. As the Apostle James reminds us in his epistle, authentic Christianity must be visible in action. In his words, “I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Through this example, God, the Light of the World (John 8:12), invites us to be light that shines through darkness and salt that gives flavor to the world (Matthew 5:13-16).

God makes this call concrete today through the prophet Isaiah, where He urges us to “share our bread with the hungry; shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when we see them, and not to turn our back on our own” (Isaiah 58:7-10). These commands define practical Christianity; they translate what we profess into how we live, pointing to a faith expressed in love and open to the HOPE of God’s superabundant life. As Isaiah reassures us in the latter part of today’s first reading, the outcomes are obvious. He says: “Our light shall break forth like the dawn, and God shall quickly heal our wounds; our vindication shall go before us, and the glory of the LORD shall be our rear guard. Then we shall call, and the LORD will answer, we shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!” (Isaiah 58:7-10).

We often hear about that motivational idea that encourages us to “Make a statement with our Actions.” At the center of that idea stands love, the love of God, the love of neighbor, and the love of our community. LOVE “covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Love gives faith its credibility, and love provides hope its direction. Love is the heartbeat of discipleship, the living force that animates every good work. And put simply: Love is God.