Daily Readings - Wed Feb 19 2020
James
19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Mark
22And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.23And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.24And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.25After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.26And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
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.