16 February 2022
Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
“Who Shall Live on your Holy Mountain, O Lord?”
“Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.” This phrase is one of the classic pieces of wisdom in the book of James. He reminds us of that charity – the core virtue of our faith – a virtue of action and service: Lord is shown more in deeds than in words.
James gives us a curious metaphor within today’s reading, that of a mirror and forgetfulness. He says that a hearer who does not live out his faith is like one who looks into a mirror and sees themselves, but then forgets this image when they walk away. How does this help us be better doers of our faith? James’ next lines give us the answer “he who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres…such a one shall be blessed in what he does.” The mirror analogy for James is about the Law and the Word of God. This is the mirror of our spiritual lives that reveals our true self, how we stand before God. This mirror, God’s word, and Law, reveal how much the image of God is shining forth in our hearts and actions, and where sin has fogged up the image of Christ in us. Forgetting who we are in light of God’s law and love, causes us to forget to be doers of the word and not only hearers.
Let us pray today for the grace to use God’s word and law as a mirror which reveals who we are: sons and daughters of Christ, yet sinners in need of mercy, forgiveness, and conversion. From what we see, this goodness and need for conversion, let us pray to be doers of our faith which flows from knowing our identity before God.