Today's first reading from the letter of James challenges us to put our faith into practice. If good works do not go with our faith, it is dead. Jesus sums up the commandments in the one great commandment of love and if we live out this commandment in our daily lives we will surely be putting our faith into action.

Each day from the moment we rise we have many opportunities to respond to others in love - to be sensitive and caring to members of our own families, to be honest and generous in our working places, to encourage those who feel down-hearted, to reach out a helping hand to those in need. The list is endless and it often makes demands on us.

Perhaps we can understand now what Jesus is talking about in today's Gospel reading when he says, "If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine let him renounce himself, take up his cross and follow me". For some people this might be a heavy burden that they have to carry, but it can often be how we respond to the little demands that daily life makes on us that shows we are true followers of Jesus. The grace to live out our faith comes from our relationship with God, our prayer life and the sacraments.