Monday of the Sixth Week of Ordinary Time

I have a terrific meditation on today's gospel, posted on Shrove Monday of 2010. You're welcome to peruse it. I'll reflect on the opening of  Saint Jame's Epistle today: 

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021312.cfm

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.


The Letter of Saint James has been called a Wisdom writing, meaning that it belongs to that Wisdom genre of the Old Testament containing Proverbs, Wisdom, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) and many of the psalms. Because the author mentions Jesus Christ so rarely -- only twice -- some have wondered if it belongs in the New Testament. 
But its reversals should be familiar to any Christian. By reversals I mean those statements that reverse ordinary expectations. Trials should be welcomed as joys; the lowly may take pleasure in his lowliness; and the privileged should act humbly, "for he will pass away like the flower of the field."

This is a new kind of wisdom, like that which Saint Paul taught. 

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
   and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ 
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, (I Corinthians 1: 18-22)

This new kind of wisdom often defies what we Americans like to call "common sense." (I understand this expression is peculiarly American, and originates with Payne's essay, Common Sense.) But the Bible offers many proverbs and sayings that should make sense to  anyone: 

The thoughts of the righteous are just;   the advice of the wicked is treacherous....
Fools think their own way is right,   but the wise listen to advice. 

 The New Testament teaches a Christian wisdom based upon the astonishing experience of Jesus' death and resurrection. As Saint Paul wrote to the Galatians: 

For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

and to the Colossians he wrote:

For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s^*will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, (Colossianns 1:9) 

Saint Francis reveled in this new kind of wisdom. He found wealth in poverty, satiety in hunger, comfort in cold and profound dissatisfaction in popularity. He embraced the despised and sought shelter among the homeless. His greatest happiness fell upon him when he was afflicted with the wounds of Jesus on his hands, feet and chest. Even good health was a scourge to him as he exposed himself to mistreatment and abuse. 
Saint Francis wanted to be like Jesus Christ the Crucified. That made eminent sense to him. Late in his life, when he was often comforted by spiritual consolations such as most people can hardly imagine, he begged the Lord not to give him these reassurances. He wanted to defer them till later, after he had died. 
Once, when his doctors tried to heal his blindness they cauterized the temples of his head. The treatment was so barbaric that his companions fled from the room as they smelled the burning flesh. But he reported -- with some astonishment -- that he felt no pain at all. 


The Letter of Saint James is filled with this new kind of wisdom: 

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.
Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation,for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.