Reading of the Word of God
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
You are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people acquired by God
to proclaim his marvellous works.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
James 3, 13-18
Anyone who is wise or understanding among you should from a good life give evidence of deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom.
But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or selfish ambition, do not be boastful or hide the truth with lies;
this is not the wisdom that comes from above, but earthly, human and devilish.
Wherever there are jealousy and ambition, there are also disharmony and wickedness of every kind;
whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it is also peaceable, kindly and considerate; it is full of mercy and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it.
The peace sown by peacemakers brings a harvest of justice.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
You will be holy,
because I am holy, thus says the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
"Who is wise and understanding among you?" The Word of God, whether an open way or not, always questions those who listen to it. This is what James does when he invites his readers to examine themselves concerning their wisdom and their behaviour. True wisdom and honest intelligence are measured by one's actions. Especially those with responsibility in government must not take advantage of their position, but must demonstrate wisdom in all they do. James insists: it is not "fleshly" wisdom that makes individual and communal life beautiful and well-ordered. That sort of wisdom is rooted in the "diabolic" spirit; it divides brothers and sisters because it is founded on jealousy and bickering. "Bitter envy and selfish ambition" often animate our society and sometimes even ecclesial realities. The Venerable Bede writes, "Paul himself says, those who are unspiritual, do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit’ (1 Cor 2:14). Wisdom that is contentious and proud is rightly called earthly, animal, and diabolical, because as long as the soul seeks earthly glory it is deprived of spiritual grace and thinks only of the things that have come to it naturally ever since the original sin." The "wisdom that comes from above," from God, is different. It urges the believer to do God’s loving will, and it seeks not to exalt itself but only to fulfil the words of the Gospel. James enumerates the seven characteristics of wisdom according to God: it is pure and without hypocrisy, it is peaceful and indulgent, it is merciful and brings peace, and it is rich with good fruits. The first characteristic ("pure") which is also defined as "without hypocrisy" here signifies honesty towards others and opposes falseness that causes so much evil. The first of the adjectives describes a way of living with others characterized by sincerity and love. We remember the hymn to love in chapter thirteen of the first letter to the Corinthians. Only in this way can we live the true peace that produces justice. In conclusion, Christians are wise when they imitate Jesus who is humble and gentle of heart. How many times we see right answers or the ability to evaluate life deeply! James helps us ask for hope that comes from above, that remains incomprehensible to the wise of this world and is revealed to the simple because it is the wisdom of the heart. The Apostle Paul says much the same thing when he exhorts the Corinthians, "If you think you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God" (1 Cor 3:18-19).
Prayer is the heart of the life of the Community of Sant'Egidio and is its absolute priority. At the end of the day, every the Community of Sant'Egidio, large or small, gathers around the Lord to listen to his Word. The Word of God and the prayer are, in fact, the very basis of the whole life of the Community. The disciples cannot do other than remain at the feet of Jesus, as did Mary of Bethany, to receive his love and learn his ways (Phil. 2:5).
So every evening, when the Community returns to the feet of the Lord, it repeats the words of the anonymous disciple: " Lord, teach us how to pray". Jesus, Master of prayer, continues to answer: "When you pray, say: Abba, Father". It is not a simple exhortation, it is much more. With these words Jesus lets the disciples participate in his own relationship with the Father. Therefore in prayer, the fact of being children of the Father who is in heaven, comes before the words we may say. So praying is above all a way of being! That is to say we are children who turn with faith to the Father, certain that they will be heard.
Jesus teaches us to call God "Our Father". And not simply "Father" or "My Father". Disciples, even when they pray on their own, are never isolated nor they are orphans; they are always members of the Lord's family.
In praying together, beside the mystery of being children of God, there is also the mystery of brotherhood, as the Father of the Church said: "You cannot have God as father without having the church as mother". When praying together, the Holy Spirit assembles the disciples in the upper room together with Mary, the Lord's mother, so that they may direct their gaze towards the Lord's face and learn from Him the secret of his Heart.
The Communities of Sant'Egidio all over the world gather in the various places of prayer and lay before the Lord the hopes and the sufferings of the tired, exhausted crowds of which the Gospel speaks ( Mat. 9: 3-7 ), In these ancient crowds we can see the huge masses of the modern cities, the millions of refugees who continue to flee their countries, the poor, relegated to the very fringe of life and all those who are waiting for someone to take care of them. Praying together includes the cry, the invocation, the aspiration, the desire for peace, the healing and salvation of the men and women of this world. Prayer is never in vain; it rises ceaselessly to the Lord so that anguish is turned into hope, tears into joy, despair into happiness, and solitude into communion. May the Kingdom of God come soon among people!
For the sick, in memory of the dead, for peace
