“SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”
Daily Spiritual Reflections
17th February 2022
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THURSDAY, SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Jas 2: 1-9; Ps 34: 2-7; Mk 8: 27-33
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A LIFE OF CHARITY PROCLAIMS FAITH
“My brothers, do not combine faith in Jesus Christ, our glorified Lord, with the making of distinctions between classes of people.” In these first words of the reading of today, James is clear about his message: The profession of faith and the living of it are two different things that need to be in harmony.
The proclamation of faith without a corresponding action that certifies it is an empty faith. Nature manifests its being by its fruits. Similarly, our identity as a Christian is to be manifested in action. St James is very much convinced of this truth. He exhorts us not to limit our faith to certain proclamations, devotions, rituals and ceremonies. He is very firm on the need of translating this faith into our relationships with others; i.e. into a life of charity.
Observing among the Christian community he is writing to, the existence of partiality and discrimination, he reprimands them for their hypocrisy, reminding them of the Lord’s commandment, the ‘supreme law of scripture’ as he calls it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”. For, by this commandment is one’s Christian faith measured.
The Gospel addresses directly this tendency towards a hypocritical Christian life, asking us the all-important question: “Who is Jesus to you? Is he just a name to be repeated aloud in community prayers? Is he just someone to be admired from a distance but not followed? Or is he your Lord, your Saviour, your Master, your Teacher, you Shepherd? Is he your Way, your Truth and your Life?” Furthermore, the gospel reminds us that we too can make the same mistake as Peter – fail to let the knowledge of the Lord sink into the depths of the heart. Peter knew who the Lord was – the Messiah, but didn’t take time to ponder on what it meant to be the Messiah, the Anointed One, and consequently, what it meant to be a disciple of the one anointed to be the Lamb of God.
Response: This lowly one called; the Lord heard.
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