Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
This week’s readings prompt me to continue last week’s theme of virtues. Our first reading from James identifies several specific ways that we can practice being virtuous. In our Gospel, Jesus heals a blind man. I pray that today, our Lord might heal us of our spiritual blindness, and give us grace to look intently, with eyes wide open, into his word in order that it might change us and make us more like Christ.
I invite us to read the passage from James slowly, considering the virtues that James identifies and asking ourselves if we can honestly say we embody these virtues. James says we should be “quick to hear, slow to speak . . .” Let’s ask ourselves, am I a good listener for others or when I listen am I jumping quickly in my mind to what I want to say? Am I able to truly hear people, not just hear their words? Do I tend to do more of the talking or more of the listening with key people in my life? James exhorts us to be “slow to anger . . .” How quickly am I prompted to anger? Would key people in my life describe me as an angry person?
James tells us, “humbly welcome the word [of God] . . .” Do we offer hospitality in our hearts and minds to God’s word when we read or hear it? What things tend to crowd out God’s word within us; to what other distractions are we bidding welcome? What barriers might I identify within myself to being a receptive hearer of God’s word? Are there times that I tend to shut the door on God’s word – when and how do I do that?
Consequently, we are to be doers of God’s word and not just hearers. To assess our state in this regard requires a vulnerable, honest, examination of conscience. Whenever we encounter God’s word, let’s be willing to ask ourselves, do I fulfill this particular teaching, command, or invitation of God? Do I embody this virtue? Have I turned away from this specific sin? Am I following the example of Christ and the Apostles? These are just a few questions that might guide our reflection. James says that we are to peer into God’s word as if it were a mirror. When I look intently into God’s word, do I see myself reflected in it? Approached in this way, every encounter with God’s word becomes an opportunity for conversion and growth according to the word.
Continuing on with James, he calls us to “bridle [our] tongue.” Just as a rider controls her horse with the bit and bridle, so are we called to control our tongue. Peering into the mirror of God’s word, how do I see my tongue? Am I too quick to speak, to criticize, to ridicule, to insult, to argue, to inflammatory speech, etc, or am I able to control my tongue and remain respectful, loving, courteous, edifying, encouraging, wise, temperate, etc?
Finally, as people who humbly welcome God’s word and put it into action, we are called to care for orphans and widows (and we can extend this category to all the vulnerable). To what extent do I actively care for and serve the vulnerable in our society, in our Parish, and in my inner circles? Let’s peer into God’s word in these verses and give an honest assessment of what we see reflected back in the mirror. James tells us to keep ourselves “unstained by the world.” As I look long and hard in the mirror of God’s word, what stains do I see on my soul? On my heart? On my mind? On my hands?
Today, let us peer into the eyes of the Living Word, Christ himself, seeing nothing but his pure love mirrored to us. Strengthened and encouraged by his love, let us ask Christ to heal our blindness and give us grace to look intently into his word in order that it might change us. Perhaps we can choose one virtue from our scriptures today to work on for growth. And “May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to his call.” Amen! Alleluia!
Elizabeth Wells