Scripture Reflection for first Monday in Ordinary Time, May 12, 2008

Scripture for First Monday (May 12) in ordinary time after Pentecost:
Texts: James 1:1-11. Psalm 119:67-68, 71-72,75-76. Mark 8:11-13.
Lectionary # 335:

What a good way to begin ordinary time in our liturgical readings.
We start with the most down to earth, practical, and clear author known as
James of Alphaeus, a cousin of the Lord. Then turning to the Gospel we
have the ever practical Gospel of Mark which is closest to the historical
time of Jesus as a Gospel. We like writers who are pastoral, direct, and
clear. So it is good to begin on a Monday with these inspired persons. A
caution is not to box James into saying he is only emphasizing faith
connected to good works. There is much more to him and it is under the
Jewish concept of Wisdom. He will use images that are metaphors, he will
imitate the book of Proverbs, he will show us what biblical wisdom is. As
for Mark, he speaks for himself today even though he was one of the last
Gospels to be read and used in the Churches at the beginning. Matthew our
Sunday Gospel for cycle A is the one who was featured strongly as a Sunday
Gospel for almost two thousand years.
In today's chaotic society we need leaders with wisdom both in the
political realm as well as the religious realm. We get this wisdom from
listening and doing what both Mark and James suggest. To be a disciple of
Jesus after the message of Mark we need to take up our sufferings and cross
in the light of that Gospel known as the Gospel of the Cross. Then in
James we have someone who is challenging, clear in his demands of a
Christian, and concerned about two issues of today, social justice and
concern for the needs of the poor. As we open ourselves to the first
eleven lines of James we will see that he will mentor us toward living out
the word of God and being concerned for our brothers and sisters in need.
His opening chapter is important for the interpretation of the rest of this
practical wisdom sermon or series of sermons.
Practical wisdom is also the tool for the pedagogical outreach of a
good teacher who by practicing what he teaches and inspiring others to do
the same becomes an educator and a wisdom figure. James will push us
during the coming week to challenge our intellectual presuppositions and
our philosophical approach. He will make us come down to earth in living
out the Scriptures. He is especially close to the sayings of Jesus found
in the Gospel of Matthew in his Sermon on the Mount, the blueprint for a
life of a Christian disciple. Both Matthew and James are Jewish in their
writing, each in a different genre.
We will come to see and hear that James advocates faith, love, works
of justice, and above all the wisdom of his Jewish heritage. Love for him
means helping the poor and controlling one's talk that little rudder on a
boat that can guide us into a lot of troubled waters. Perhaps, the wisdom
of James is best seen in verse five of chapter one. Here is the way
K.Condon, C.M. interprets this wisdom of James, "Wisdom is a gift of
God--not wisdom in the Greek sense of our capacity to attain truth by
reason, but in the biblical sense of the insight given by God which enables
one to judge rightly on the things of life (here 'trials'). For this wisdom
one should ask God who give to all without reserve and without cavil (cf
Matthew 7:11-12)."
And since Matthew is so often similar to the wisdom sayings of James, here
is the quotation of Matthew 7:11-12: "If you then, who are evil, know how
to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in
heaven give good things to those who ask him! In everything you do to
others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the
prophets." Amen.