Are We Saved by Grace or Works? (Father Simon Says)

Ben from Minnesota popped a million-dollar question: Are we saved by doing good deeds or just by believing really, really hard? 🤔💭 Fr. Richard Simon dived deep into the nitty-gritty, pulling out St. Paul and some ancient texts to set the record straight. 📜 Works of the Law vs. Grace: According to Father, when St. Paul talks about "works of the law," he's not nagging us about avoiding dead rodents. Nope, he's schooling us on the bigger picture: salvation is about embracing grace through faith.  Father spins a yarn about Qumran scrolls and ancient debates to highlight a truth: Jesus and Paul were basically saying, "Focus on what matters." 💥 We're drenched in God's grace 24/7, a divine downpour meant to mold us into Christ's image. And how do we catch this heavenly rain? With the trusty umbrella of faith—trust, that is. 🌦️🙏 Faith isn't just about saying, "Yeah, I believe" and then doing whatever we please. Father drops a reality check: faith without works is as alive as a doornail. Trusting God means rolling up our sleeves and living out His commands, like giving to the poor even when our wallets are crying. 💸➡️💖 "It's Not About Earning Brownie Points with God!" Ben then asks: "Do I need to prove I'm worthy of salvation?" Fr. Simon's answer?  It's not about proving anything. We're not the celestial scorekeepers; we're the players, learning to trust the Coach's playbook. Salvation? It's a free gift, but it comes with a catch: obedience, the Jesus way. 🎁✝️ So, if you're stressing about racking up heavenly points, take a breather. Embrace the grace, trust in God, and let your actions sing your faith. Remember, it's about living in the stream of grace and saying "Yes" to whatever God pours into your heart. 🌟🙌