St. Mary's Church Elizabeth, IL

11/9

"Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom."

                                                                                                                                                     James 3:13

Read James, chapter 3

The author identifies himself as a teacher and reflects on the major way in which a teacher hands-on knowledge and wisdom, namely speech.  With striking metaphors that illustrate the far-reaching effects of speech, he confirms what we all know in perhaps uncounscious way.  The first-illutrations comparing the tongue to a horse's bit and the ship's rudder show the impressive power of speech as a guide (verse 3-5).

     But then the illustrations become ambiguous and even threatening.  We see that the tongue has power both for great good and great ill (verses 5-12).  The first illustrations showed the tongue's power to guide and control.  These suggest that the effects of speech are not themselves subject to control.  And yet, perhaps there is a way to control speech.  That is by forming oneself with integrity.  After all, both springs of water and plants yield only according to their sources.

     Implicitly, this talk of speech emphasizes the critical significance and heavy responsibility of anyone who functions as teacher for the community.  But, in the end, a teacher is most effective through the example and inspirations of his or her own life.  The wise person envisioned by James is not cartoon character sitting atop some nearly inaccessible mountain peak before whom on comes to ask the meaning of life.  This wise person is fully a part of the community; this wise person teaches and embodies not only what will enhance the individual but also the virtues that build the community, namely, peace-ability, gentleness, mercy, respect for all.  The fruit of the wise speech of the community's teacher is peace.

For Reflection:  In what ways do I use speech to praise God and invoke God's blessing on others?  In what ways do I use speech to promote peace in the human community?

Prayer Starter;  Jesus, Word of God, may your word be planted firmly within me and bring forth fruit in my words of mercy, gentleness, truth and peace.

Fr. Joachim