Text: James 1:19-21
You must understand this, my beloved; let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
In defining the concept "sarvodaya" (the welfare of all...true democracy realized) Gandhi writes that "we would regard the humblest and lowest Indian as being equally the ruler of India with the tallest in the land." A wonderful paragraph follows and it ends with: "(S)He would be ready to lay down his(her) life when occasion demands it, never want to take another's life." The implanted word is said to be the word of our baptism. It is the word of affirmation about out true identity..and the identity of the "other." To begin there is to begin each moment in a creative and blessed manner. So before a situation "blows up," it would be good to pause and remember whose we are and the simple fact that we gain nothing by minimizing or destroying or being violent toward others in our lives. Rather, we have the opportunity to live according to the grace given to us in our baptism - as called and blessed children of God. Some may say "count to ten" before you act or speak. We may also want to say, "Remember you are baptized" and as we let that be the word that defines our character we have a way to live with the ones we may even call our enemies.
Connection: Today we continue to shape our character. Following Jesus is not simply a "spiritual exercise" that is done in solitude or on some personal journey with God. Our baptism in Christ, Jesus, informs our day...each part of it. What is the baptismal character we bring into the real life situations that we will encounter at work and school and play today? Character is made up of all the parts of our day - how are we followers of Jesus when no one is looking at us?
Word of Life, you designate us as you people and you grace our lives with your promise to abide with us. In all we do throughout this day, let you peace reign among us and let our lives reflect the love that you have for us. Ame.
You must understand this, my beloved; let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
In defining the concept "sarvodaya" (the welfare of all...true democracy realized) Gandhi writes that "we would regard the humblest and lowest Indian as being equally the ruler of India with the tallest in the land." A wonderful paragraph follows and it ends with: "(S)He would be ready to lay down his(her) life when occasion demands it, never want to take another's life." The implanted word is said to be the word of our baptism. It is the word of affirmation about out true identity..and the identity of the "other." To begin there is to begin each moment in a creative and blessed manner. So before a situation "blows up," it would be good to pause and remember whose we are and the simple fact that we gain nothing by minimizing or destroying or being violent toward others in our lives. Rather, we have the opportunity to live according to the grace given to us in our baptism - as called and blessed children of God. Some may say "count to ten" before you act or speak. We may also want to say, "Remember you are baptized" and as we let that be the word that defines our character we have a way to live with the ones we may even call our enemies.
Connection: Today we continue to shape our character. Following Jesus is not simply a "spiritual exercise" that is done in solitude or on some personal journey with God. Our baptism in Christ, Jesus, informs our day...each part of it. What is the baptismal character we bring into the real life situations that we will encounter at work and school and play today? Character is made up of all the parts of our day - how are we followers of Jesus when no one is looking at us?
Word of Life, you designate us as you people and you grace our lives with your promise to abide with us. In all we do throughout this day, let you peace reign among us and let our lives reflect the love that you have for us. Ame.
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