Monday of the
Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
(James 3:13-18; Mark 9:14-29)
In one of his books Biblical scholar Fr. Raymond Brown
expressed exasperation with some of his counterparts. He said that where a particular
passage was difficult to interpret, these commentators often became strident
about their positions. Fr. Brown had a
finger on an example of the point James makes in today’s first reading.
James emphasizes how humility is part of the search for understanding. A wise person does not pretend to know her subject
with precision, but studies it prodigiously.
In coming to understand, she does not jealously guard her progress or seek
to exploit it for ungainly profit. In contrast,
James says, a foolish person is driven by the need for gratification. He is likely to may make dubitable claims in
order to attract attention if not dollars.
In the end the wise person promotes a culture of integrity while the
fool creates an atmosphere of suspicion.
Humility becomes any person. We are probably not as good, intelligent or
wise as we think. We should recognize how
others possess qualities or information that we lack. This humble stance will move us to learn from
and cooperate with them. Hopefully in
the end, we will find ourselves growing in appreciation of others and in peace
with ourselves.
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