Daily Retreat 02/15/06

2006 Feb 15 Wed: Ordinary Weekday

Jas 1: 19-27/ Ps 14(15): 2-3a. 3bc-4ab. 5/ Mk 8: 22-26

From today’s readings: "Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.... He who does these things shall never be disturbed.... Then Jesus laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly."

Welcoming the Word

When we welcome people, you and I convey to them, in word and deed, that we want them to stay, that their presence has brought joy and comfort and good things to our lives. Then too, there are some people whom we deliberately choose not to welcome, letting them know, in word and deed, that we do not want them to stay, that their presence means little to us, or is a source of irritation.

The Word of God is more than written or spoken speech expressing an idea - the Word of God is Christ Himself! Do you welcome the Word of God, or do you choose not to welcome Him? In order to welcome the Word of God, you and I must begin, as St. James notes, by "putting away all filth and evil excess," for no one can feel welcome in a home or heart polluted like a cesspool.

But in order to truly welcome the Word, it’s not enough to just sweep out the sin in our lives - it’s also essential for our actions to embrace the Word. As we do so, a miracle occurs, for to embrace the living Word of God is to transform ourselves, so that our actions and our very selves come to even embody and enflesh the Word!