Word to the Wise
Monday, February 17, 2020 - Monday in the 6th Week in Ordinary Time
[Jas 1:1-11 and Mark 8:11-13]Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. [James]
I don't think there are many of us who "consider it all joy" when we "encounter various trials," even if we persevere! The Letter of James, which will provide the first scripture for the next few days, is an extended moral "pep talk" that may have been addressed to a primarily Jewish-Christian audience. It is a "pep talk" that will challenge us, however. The opening lines, quoted above, are an example.
I occasionally hear the lines from students (and older), "I'm not a quitter, but I'm about to become one and it bothers me." The challenges are many that provoke this statement - academic, career, relationships, illness, etc.. "Joy" is not the feeling that I pick up from those whom I counsel pastorally in these challenges. "Wisdom" is definitely a good thing to pray for in addressing the way forward!
There is an old Louisiana expression, "When you're up to your rear in alligators, it's hard to remember the initial objective was to drain the swamp!" Wisdom has a way of giving perspective, which is easy to lose when everything seems to be falling apart. When the crisis passes, the lessons learned can be valuable wisdom for the future. This is when we realize that God has heard our prayer for wisdom. The very fact that we seek counsel from a wise person (Tobit 4:18) is a good sign that wisdom is creeping into our challenges. Maybe that can be a source of joy when we finally find the way forward! AMEN