Faith in Action, Part 2

This is the second half of a reflection on the Letter of James.  You can read the first part, including why I wrote this reflection, at https://renewaloffaith.org/faith-in-action/.  

Chapter 2 of the Letter of James shows that if we faith, we will do good works.  Our works serve as evidence of our faith. 

If people are to know their faith, someone must teach them (see Acts 8:30-31).  James 3:1-3 speaks of the responsibility one assumes when one becomes a teacher of faith, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly, for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also.  If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies.”  If we are to be teachers, we must practice what we preach.  Otherwise, we have no reason to expect anyone to listen to us.   

To be received as a teacher, one must first be a witness for, as Pope St. Paul VI said, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” (Pope Paul VI, Address to the Members of the Consilium de Laicis (2 October 1974): AAS 66 (1974), p. 568 as quoted in Evangelii Nuntiandi, 41). 

Teaching comes with a responsibility to practice our faith.  Yet, we must realize that even those who teach have the same human weaknesses that we all do.  We must make our best efforts and leave the rest to God.  King David was a great king but he was not without sin.  Neither are we.   

Whether we are teachers or not, what comes from our mouths can reveal much about what we think and feel individually.  We need to control our months to guide our whole lives.  We need to think before we speak or act.  James 3:5-6 describes this well, “In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions.  Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze.   The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna.”  It is important to consider our words carefully.  Words spoken with good intent but not chosen carefully can turn a discussion into a destructive fire.  We need to stop, think, and pray before we speak in a difficult conversation. 

James continues “but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing” (James 3:8-10a).  Perhaps it does seem that “no human being can tame the tongue.”  It can be difficult but that is not an excuse to not try to control our tongue.  While it can be difficult for us, nothing is impossible for God.   

We have a choice to make.  Do we speak from our faith or do we let emotions like anger control us?  From our faith, we speak of blessings.  From anger and jealousy, we may speak curses.  With faith comes hope.  With hate comes more hate.  We need to choose our words carefully. 

We must not let jealously or our own pride dictate our words “for where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice” (James 3:16). 

So, what are we to do?  We need to seek the wisdom that is a gift of the Holy Spirit for “the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity” (James 3:17).  From this comes peace (see James 3:18). 

These passions (greed, pride, anger, and envy – which are all part of the seven deadly sins) can take over our tongues and cause wars and conflicts (see James 4:1-3).  A little patience can go a long way (see James 5:7-8).  When we turn to the Holy Spirit, we can experience the fruit of the Holy Spirit that is patience.  Listening to the Holy Spirit and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us can bring other fruits such as self-control and peace (see Galatians 5:22-23). 

Are you a “lover of the world”?  Do you allow your love for the world to make you an “enemy of God” (James 4:4)?  Remember Jesus’ words, “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).  Do not let mammon take a place in your heart and soul that is meant for God. 

If you allow greed for earthly wealth to take over, you will withhold from others what is their due (see James 5:4-5).  This breaks the Seventh Commandment, “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15).  Such stealing is a work that serves as a witness against you. 

We may find ourselves choosing in our words to complain about and put all the blame to others.  If we do this, we can bring judgment on ourselves (see James 5:9).  Maybe they do have some blame to bear.  You cannot control their actions.  You are only responsible for your actions (as long as you warn them – see Ezekiel 3:17-21).  Ask yourself, no, actually, ask God if you are speaking and acting in accord with his Will.   

We may find ourselves in hardship and in need of patience.  This is what being a prophet of the Lord sometimes brings (see James 5:10).  In such situations, the prophets of the Old Testament persevered for when we follow God’s Will, He will give us the grace we need to persevere.   

In all of this we need to keep our word (again, control our tongue).  James reminds us of the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:33-37 to let us “yes” mean “yes” and our “no” no (see James 5:12). 

None of us is perfect.  We fall short and stray at times.  With that in mind, I end with these words of James, “My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back,  he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). 

Peace, 

Fr. Jeff