Celebración de la palabra

Wednesday February 19

Wednesday of 6th Week of Ordinary Time

TRUE WORSHIP

Introduction

James tells us that if we believe in a message of life and hope, real faith and real worship of God consist in doing what we believe in, and in reflecting in our attitude and deeds God’s love for us by being concerned about people far and near, especially those who are neglected and suffer much. Is this the kind of faith we have?
As a sign that he came to heal – that is, to make whole again – to bring forgiveness and life to the whole person, Jesus restores the sight of the blind, makes the deaf hear again, even raises the dead back to life. He does not only bring good news of hope and healing, he is that Good News, he embodies it in himself and shares it with people in word and deed.

Opening Prayer

Lord God, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ, your living Word
you address yourself today
to each of us personally
and as a community of faith.
May we live as we believe
as hearers and doers of your word,
and like you and your Son,
be compassionate and care
for those often neglected by society,
the needy, the abandoned, the distressed.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

1st Reading: Jas 1:19-27

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Responsorial Psalm: 15:2-3a, 3b-4ab, 5

R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
whose tongue utters no slander,
R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the Lord;
R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?

Alleluia: Eph 1:17-18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Enlightens the eyes of our hearts,
That we may know what is the hope
That belongs to his call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Mk 8:22-26

When Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida, Jesus was asked to touch a blind man who was brought to him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had put spittle on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked, “Can you see anything?” The man, who was beginning to see, replied, “I see people! They look like trees, but they move around.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again and the man could see perfectly. His sight was restored and he could see everything clearly.
Then Jesus sent him home saying, “Do not return to the village.”

Commentary

Human anger can take a dreadful toll. James inveighs strongly against it in today’s first reading. We are told to be good listeners and slow responders. Taking time to calmly deal with a conflict situation gives our anger a chance to subside and helps us more clearly discern the most appropriate way to respond.
The major guide in our human response should be the word of God. When faced with a critical or conflict situation, the best question to ask is, “How would Christ deal with this?” It is useless to hear the word of God but not act on it. Certain books of the Bible speak to us directly about appropriate behaviour. We should return to these books regularly for insights on how to respond like Christians to difficult situations.
James also gives us a formula for the authentic worship of God: looking after the poor of this world, the “widows and orphans” who, in traditional societies, were at a severe disadvantage because they had been left with no male provider. All who have been left imperilled by misfortune have a strong claim on our concern. To serve the poor, we ourselves must remain unsullied by the entice­ments of this world. We must walk the path of the just and, in the words of the psalmist, speak truth from the heart.

Points to Ponder

Reflection before acting
The experience of anger The widows and orphans of today
Authentic worship of God

Intercessions

– For the Church, that like Christ it may preach the Good News to the poor and set the downtrodden free, we pray:
– For our friends and enemies in need, that we may open our hearts and hands to improve their lot and to restore their faith in the justice and friendship of people, we pray:
– For those who live in abundance, that they may become more concerned about the needy and the quality of life than about amassing more wealth, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
the message of Jesus, your Son,
became flesh and blood in his life and death.
He lived as he taught.
In this bread and this wine,
we place ourselves and our willingness
to let his death and life
become flesh and blood in us,
that we may proclaim by what we are and do
that he is our Lord and Savior for ever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
we have listened to your Son
and joined him in his thanks and praise to you.
Come to the aid of our frailty
and let Jesus bring you through us
the pure, unspoiled worship
of helping our brothers and sisters in need
and of breaking the bonds of evil,
that we may be free with the freedom
of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

Among the signs of God, we have to learn to see the destitute, about whom Jesus says, “What you do to the least of your brothers and sisters, you do to me.” They are Jesus for us. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.