FIRST READING
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint James (James 1:19-27)
Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing. If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 15:2-3a.3bc-4ab.5 (R. see 1b)
R/. Who shall dwell on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Whoever walks without fault;
who does what is just,
and speaks the truth from his heart.
Who does not slander with his tongue. R/.
Who does no wrong to a neighbour,
who casts no slur on a friend,
who looks with scorn on the wicked,
but honours those who fear the Low. R/.
R/. Who shall dwell on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Who lends no money at interest,
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a one shall never be shaken. R/.
ALLELUIA Ephesians 1:17-18
Alleluia. May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know what is the hope to which he has called us. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
He restored sight to the blind man and he saw everything clearly.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 8:22-26)
At that time: Jesus and the disciples came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man, and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men; but they look like trees, walking.” Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly. And he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Conversion is an ongoing process. Having received the word of God there is a need to constantly accept and submit! Those born as Christians tend to be in greater need of true conversion. One must strive to embrace his/her faith more deeply through all of life’s events. Moving from being hearers to being doers of God’s word! According to James, pure, unspoilt religion means to come to the help of the needy and keep oneself uncontaminated by the world. Just as the healing of the blind man went through a gradual process, so also does conversion. It is not a once for all task. It is a call to live life alive; in constant renewal, responding to Christ’s invitation to be like him. Take that next step!