Daily Readings - Wed Feb 19 2020
James
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Mark
22They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.23He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?"24He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."25Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.26Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into 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.