The first reading for mass from the Letter of Saint James starts out by telling us how important it is to listen, instead of doing all the talking. He said, “everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak”. This is so hard to do sometimes, for some of us. What others say, leads to more thoughts along the same lines, especially if it is something we feel passionately about, or if we are angry with another person. We keep wanting to interrupt with our own thoughts. But, this is not good. There is no other way you can value another person, and help them to know their own value and dignity in the eyes of God than to listen to them. It makes them feel like you value them enough to hear what they have to say.
Another reason it is important to stop talking so much is because as long as you are talking you don’t learn anything because all you hear is your own words. If you are in an argument, you may never learn the other person’s point of view because you are so busy thinking about your rebuttal. When you are busy talking you don’t hear what another person’s needs are.
The rest of the first reading for mass talks about only hearing though, and not doing. Saint James warns us not to be “like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like.” That’s because the man is only looking at himself. However, Saint James encourages us to be like the man who peers into the Word of God and follows the gospel teachings, because we become doers instead of listening. Our deeds should match our words. Rather than think of ourselves and our own piety, we should put into practice what we hear. The Word of God teaches us and helps us to grow to a proper understanding of the gospel and how to live it out genuinely in our lives, not just on the surface of things. Outward piety means nothing. We may appear to be very pious and holy to others and then do things that are unchristian in private. Working on applying the principles of love that the gospel teaches, is the only way to holiness.
Jesus healed the blind man in today’s gospel. It’s pretty awesome how the gospel said that Jesus took the man by the hand and led him out of town. He held his hand and led him through the darkness into the light of the world, in a physical way, but no doubt his healing resulted in a profound belief in Jesus Christ, that he was truly the son of God.
Christianity is kind of like both of the readings for mass today. You can live on the surface of things and practice all the precepts and rituals of our faith, but never really grow in holiness. That is kind of like how the blind man first saw people walking upside down like trees when Jesus first began to transform his sight. One of the first stages in growing in holiness is to learn more about Christianity and our Catholic faith. But, if we stop there, our vision, our holiness is still a little skewed. Putting what we learn into practice is the real measure of growth in holiness. And this doesn’t happen in front of everyone else. Jesus told the blind man in today’s gospel, “Do not even go into the village”, after he cured his sight. True transformation occurs away from the public eye. It occurs in silence, in prayer and coming to know Jesus intimately. The Lord also told people not to do our good works in front of others, but to go to our inner room and shut the door to pray.
Maybe today, we could try to spend less time talking and more time listening to others, and seek some quiet time away from everyone else, to pray and begin to develop a closer relationship with Jesus. The more time we spend with him, the more we become like him. Jesus heals us, through his presence in prayer, and in the Blessed Sacrament. Time at adoration or an extra mass is also a very healing thing.
Daily Mass Readings:
Jas 1: 19-27 / Ps 15: 2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5 / Mk 8: 22-26
