Times of Trial
Feb. 12: Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s first reading reminds me of a meme that’s been circulating for a while:
The meme is focused on the societal level, but in James focuses on us as individuals, and our personal relationship with God.
Reading 1
Jas 1:1-11
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings.
Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways.
The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in high standing, and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away "like the flower of the field." For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Jesus, the Son of the Living God, suffered, and so must we. But suffering isn’t pointless, if we have faith. We attain spiritual maturity by persevering in faith, even in the face of tragedy.
That’s not always easy to see, and so we must ask God for wisdom. Not knowledge or facts, which anyone can have; wisdom is seeing and understanding the real importance of events, the way God does. Without faith, the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune seem random; but to those who see as God sees, it’s possible to endure adversity with calmness and hope.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I hold to your promise.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
that I may learn your statutes.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just,
and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
Sometimes, we have to learn lessons the hard way. “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.” We all go through these times, and the best choice is to use the opportunity to grow closer to God because of them.
Alleluia
Jn 14:6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Both Cain and the “you” in the Psalm are pulling away from God. We can grow closer to Him through Jesus.
***
Gospel
Mk 8:11-13
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.
Jesus has offered many signs up until this point. Why are the Pharisees demanding another one? Same reason the Israelites did, after God parted the Red Sea and rescued them from Pharoah.1 We want to deal with God our way, on our clock, on demand. But God isn’t Netflix.
It’s worse when the Pharisees offer only the minimal amount according to the law, then demand something extraordinary and miraculous. What is that going to achieve? Do they really think they’re just one more miracle away from softening their hearts?
Perhaps what they need isn’t a miracle, but a trial. Maybe that’s what we need, as well.