6th Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Tuesday - Persevering in temptation

 
One of my favorite parts of the whole Bible is the book from which our first reading was taken today: the New Testament Letter of St. James, one of the twelve apostles. There are two apostles named James, actually. James, son of a man named Zebedee, who was a fisherman with his brother, the apostle John, and the other James, the son of a man named Alphaeus. And it’s this second James who wrote today’s first reading.

Whereas many of St. Paul’s letters are written to particular groups of Christians in particular towns or regions, like the Corinthians, the Thessalonians, and the Galatians and Ephesians. St. James writes his letter to all the Church. To all of us.

His letter contains a lot of wonderful, practical advice, so many helpful truth for us to keep in mind as we seek to be faithful to Jesus.

Today’s passage comes from the very beginning of his letter. And St. James again gives advice that is helpful for all of us. James today speaks about temptation and trial.

Everyone experiences temptation. Temptation is when we know something is wrong, but there is a part of us that wants to do it anyway. I know it’s wrong to talk back to my parents, but there’s a part of me that is tempted to talk back. There’s a part of me that is tempted to fight someone who insults me. 

Everyone experiences temptation. Teachers, principals, parents, children, the elderly. And that’s why James wants to address this issue. He knows that we are all tempted, from time to time.

Sometimes we even begin to talk ourselves into following that temptation. We tell ourselves: it’s alright if I steal from my friend, he won’t miss it. It’s alright if I ignore my guardian when they tell me to clean my room or put away the video games, I’m having fun after all. It’s alright to treat people inconsiderately, after all, they’ve treated me without kindness, I might as well do it back to them.

But what was the opening line of St. James today: “Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation.” In other words, you grow in holiness, you grow in likeness to Jesus, you allow the life of Jesus to flow in your heart and mind when you resist temptation to do wrong. We become the people God made us to be.

James goes on to explain that when you give into temptation, that’s called sin, and when you sin, when you give in to the temptation to sin, something very sad happens, something in us dies, something good dies. And if you choose sin enough, if you just give in to every temptation, something inside of you might die forever. And that is very sad, because God didn’t create us for sin, he created us for grace, for life, for holiness, for joy.

Now again, every one of us has been tempted, and everyone of us, at some point, has given in to temptation. But it didn’t have to be like, and it doesn’t have to be like that in the future. And that’s part of the goodness of being followers of Jesus: just because we’ve chosen sin and evil in the past, doesn’t mean we have to continue to make bad choices. God forgives us when we ask for forgiveness, he gives us another chance.

With God’s help, may we all come to persevere in temptation, so that we may come to receive the crown of life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

May 03 2018 - Sts. Philip and James - Faith and Works at Home and Abroad

Meditating upon the lives and virtues of the apostles, their faith and works, is always beneficial and fruitful. Particularly in the Easter season, the apostles teach us and inspire us by their goodness and courage and zeal.

While his companions went off into the world, James had the difficult task of remaining in Jerusalem, as its first bishop. Though many citizens of Jerusalem had been converted to Christ after the apostles burst from the upper room on Pentecost, there lived in Jerusalem many who hated the Gospel and conspired against it.

The first verses of his new testament epistle, the epistle of St. James, speaks of the importance of persevering in times of trial: “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

Details of James the Less’ martyrdom are found in the writings of Josephus, Eusebius, and Jerome. In 63, the Bishop Apostle was arrested and brought to the wall of the Jerusalem Temple. The Jewish High Priest demanded that James renounce Jesus as the Messiah. After giving a stirring sermon proclaiming Christ as Savior, James was thrown from the Temple wall then clubbed to death.
James foreshadowed his own martyrdom, when he wrote, “Blessed is the man who perseveres in trial, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.”

We read about Philip’s faith and burning love for the Lord in the Gospel of St. John. At the beginning of the Gospel, Philip joyfully runs to Nathanael to proclaim, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth.”

Scripture is silent concerning the works and martyrdom of Philip after the Lord’s ascension.  Some ancient legends state that Philip was preaching in a Greek town called Hieropolis, where he miraculously cured people bitten by serpents and then killed a large serpent in a temple dedicated to snake worship. For this the pagan priests and the city governor arrested Philip and had him crucified.  So, in Philip we find two characteristics of Easter evangelization: bold courage in preaching against pagan error and warm joy.

We are reminded by these great Easter saints, that whether we are at home or abroad, by persevering in our trials, and by our preaching with bold courage and warm joy lead unbelievers to Christ, we are faithful to the mission of building up the Church and sowing the seeds of the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -
 
May we join the Holy Apostles in our prayer for the world and the Church.

As the Apostles witnessed to the Resurrection of the Lord, may we be his witnesses to the farthest corners of the world.

For the bishops, the successors of the apostles: That they may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church from error.

For all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. We pray to the Lord.

For all who long to see the face of the Father, for all our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord