The Leave-taking of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, Christmas; Our Venerable Mother Melania the Roman (439)
James 1:19-27; Mark 10:17-27
No fasting or abstention from foods.
Read James 1:19-27
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
While the civil New Year isn’t particularly significant in our church observance, it still gives us a reason to look back and reflect upon the previous year. What has happened in my life and in the world? What have been the high points and the low points? How have I conducted myself with others and before God? How have I striven to grow in my relationship with Christ?
The COVID-19 crisis this past year has added several layers of opportunity for growth and decline in this part of our lives.
I’m not interested here in arguing about whether this or that government or person acted appropriately when responding to COVID-19. I’m much more interested in commenting on much of the vitriol that there has been surrounding the situation.
I may not agree with every decision that everyone makes, but that doesn’t make me doubt the goodwill of others. It breaks my heart to see in the world, on social media, and even in some of my personal interactions, such anger, disgust, and vitriol against anyone with a different opinion.
I invite everyone reading to ask themselves: How have I reacted to events and people this year? How have I looked upon those with whom I disagree? Even if I believe that someone else’s decision to wear or not wear a mask is dangerous, do I believe that this person as a beloved child of the Most High and love them as such? Do I choose to look beyond whatever faults I perceive in that person and try to understand why they think the way they do?
Please, don’t take this admonition from me. Take it from the Apostle James, who, in today’s epistle, explicitly states: “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. If you are angered when we hear or see something off-putting, ask yourself why that is. If I haven’t heard the person speak, and thus haven’t heard or listened, I can never know their heart. Perhaps that man in the shop is not wearing a mask because of a real medical condition.
Be quick to hear and slow to speak.
There is an even greater reason to open your ears and shut your mouth: so you can hear and receive the word of God. Everything I suggested so far is good, but it cannot save you. Salvation comes from Christ alone, and you can only receive salvation if your heart is open to Him and to the needs of others.
If there is one resolution to strive for, this is a good one: be quick to hear and slow to speak so you can hear the word of God and receive salvation.