Daily Readings - Wed Feb 19 2020
James
19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires.21Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.24For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.25But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.26If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Mark
22And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.23And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?"24And he looked up and said, "I see men, but they look like trees, walking."25Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.26And he sent him to his home, saying, "Do not even enter the village."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about faith, action, and compassion. The first reading from James reminds us to be quick to listen and slow to speak, emphasizing the importance of living out our faith through our actions. James warns against being mere listeners of the Word, urging us instead to be doers, caring for the vulnerable and keeping ourselves pure in a world filled with distractions. The Gospel from Mark recounts the healing of a blind man in Bethsaida, where Jesus restores the man’s sight in stages, teaching us about the gradual nature of healing and the importance of trust in God’s process.
Both readings highlight the connection between faith and action. James challenges us to move beyond mere words and instead live out our faith through works of mercy and integrity. Similarly, Mark’s account of the blind man’s healing shows us that true faith requires trust and patience, as spiritual healing often unfolds gradually. Just as the blind man needed to trust Jesus through the process of healing, we too must trust in God’s plan for our lives, even when the results are not immediate or clear.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we can put our faith into action in our daily lives. Are we quick to listen and slow to speak, or do we allow anger and impatience to guide us? Do we care for the vulnerable and keep ourselves pure in a world that often pulls us away from God? Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s timing and to live out our faith with humility and compassion, just as Jesus showed us in his healing of the blind man. May we be doers of the Word, not just hearers, and may our lives reflect the love and mercy of God.