James 1:19–27
Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing. If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
In yesterday’s passage from the Epistle of James, we were admonished to deal with temptations correctly and also to gain the right perspective from God. Temptations are to be understood as tests that God allows so that we can grow in endurance and prove ourselves. The apostle also pointed out that we should ask for wisdom when we lack it. He admonished us to ask in faith, without doubting, because otherwise we would be divided within ourselves.
Today, his helpful admonitions continue. We notice how well he knows human weaknesses and that he addresses them so that we can work on them.
He speaks of the widespread difficulty of listening properly and focusing our attention on what we hear. If what is said is true and valuable, then we need to let the words sink in.
This attentiveness is countered by the tendency to talk a lot ourselves. The apostle takes up this theme again very clearly further down in the text, emphasizing: “If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain.”
So how much and what we say is by no means insignificant. Wise restraint in speech—not to be confused with silence out of fear of people—is very beneficial for spiritual progress and also for our fellow human beings. Here we can learn from the school of monks, who are usually encouraged to speak little, which is very conducive to better listening.
What can help us practice this?
First, it is important to think before you speak. Speaking spontaneously without prior consideration often leads to distraction. It becomes difficult to have an orderly and meaningful conversation, and encounters usually remain superficial.
The tendency to “talk too much” can be countered very well by inner prayer, as it deepens our inner life. When we are more in conversation and inner exchange with God, we are moved by His Spirit to examine our words more carefully. A growing discernment of spirits helps us to order our own urge to speak and to correctly assess the value and usefulness of what we hear. If we are familiar with the Holy Scriptures, we will remember that our words should do good and build up, and that they should be free of any poison.
Periods of silence and refraining from much information that is neither valuable nor necessary also increasingly create a space within us that can intervene in our inner life in an orderly manner and restrain our life in many ways.
This general restraint will also have an effect on the problem of quick‑tempered anger, which the apostle addresses here. We will then more easily notice when anger rises within us (not referring to holy anger, which is very rare) and will be able to restrain it. Likewise, the ability to restrain ourselves will help us fulfill what the apostle expresses as follows: “Put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness.”
Here the path of inner sanctification is addressed. The Holy Spirit will not tolerate that our life in Christ continues to allow all that separates us from God and breathes the smell of death to exist within us.
The text makes it clear: “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
It is the word of God itself that shows us the way. It is effective when we take it into our hearts, for it is the word of the Lord himself that has the power to transform us. Here, true listening becomes crucial, for it should lead us to appropriate actions. Only then will the word be properly testified to and bear the fruit that our heavenly Father has intended.
With the last line of today’s passage, St. James makes it clear: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
Reflection on the daily reading: https://en.elijamission.net/the-apostles-jealousy/
Reflection on the daily Gospel: https://en.elijamission.net/2024/06/20/