These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Beloved: Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom. (Jas 3:13-18)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022122.cfm
Humility is probably the most challenging virtue of the life of faith. As the Scriptures point out, humility comes from wisdom. Unfortunately, these days, wisdom has very few children, IMHO.
Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Lk 6:27-38)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022022.cfm
One day in faith formation class, the kids were acting out how the gospel writer came up with the Golden Rule from Jesus. One kid asked, “What did Jesus say? 'Do others then they will do to you?'” Another kid answered, “No, Jesus said, 'Do to others before they do to you!'” Finally, another kid answered correctly, “No, Jesus said, 'Do to others as you would have them do to you.'” The kid who was the gospel writer quickly wrote down that last answer.
It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination wishes. In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. No man can tame the tongue. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. (Jas 3:1-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021922.cfm
The tongue . . . is quick to tear down with a cutting word, but it can also be used to build up. The Virgin Mary invites us to use our tongues to sing together with her the praises of the Lord.
So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (Jas 2:14-24, 26)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021822.cfm
Faith and works is not either/or. Rather faith and works go to together as the Letter of James points out. And as common wisdom has always observed, actions speak louder than words. Or as Ricardo Arjona, a popular Latin American artist, sings: Jesus is a Verb, not a Noun (Jesús es Verbo, no Sustantivo).
Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mk 8:27-33)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021722.cfm
Saint Peter’s habit of putting his foot in his mouth is pretty good news for all of us . . . because there’s hope that we too might finally be able to give good witness to Christ as Saint Peter did. Today's painting is the Crucifixion of Saint Peter by Carvaggio.
