Word to the Wise
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - Wednesday in the 6th Week in Ordinary Time
[Jas 1:19-27 and Mark 8:22-26]If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
The Letter of James was somewhat controversial during the Reformation in the 16th century because it speaks strongly of the importance of practical action as a manifestation of faith. Some of the Reformers thought it smacked of earning salvation by doing good deeds. In point of fact, the Letter is pretty much in the line of the "Wisdom" literature of the Old Testament. A person's actions are a reflection of their motives and integrity. It is this connection between the heart and hands that Jesus often speaks about.
The advice in today's passage from James might be worthwhile to follow in our current angry political scenes. Everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger... The words, Be doers of the word and not hearers only,......are often found in Jesus' own preaching when he says that those who hear the word of God and act on it are his real family! The words quoted above about true religion might be challenging to those whose political beliefs include leaving widows, orphans and other vulnerable populations to fend for themselves, but the gospel is not interested in getting elected and staying in power. Again, James does offer us some sound spiritual advice for our very unspiritual political system. There's more to come! AMEN