Daily Meditation - Friday 23May 2008 - ON COMPLAINING, AND ON SWEARING

[BarbaraTherese]

Friday is a Day of Penance

Saturday - Australia
Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians
Patroness of Australia

This Sunday
Corpus Christi
Solemnity of Body and Blood of Christ
(if not celebrated last Thursday)

"Do not complain. . . . Do not swear." (James 5:9,12)

• A car stops at the end of the exit ramp—“Idiot!” we fume, upset that we have been delayed another few seconds.
• Or perhaps we grumble, “That’s three times in the last month she’s backed out of her role as lector at Mass.”

The complaints roll on
“He’s never on time.
” “No one else volunteers.”
“She always gets to go first!”

And how often, and lightly, do we throw “I swear”
into our conversations?
If this describes you in any way,
then St. James’ admonitions probably sting a little.

• Maybe we should let this reading move us to meditate on who God is, instead of what he forbids.
• Notice how James also tells us that the Lord is compassionate and merciful (James 5:11).
• He is not interested in punishing us
• but in drawing us into his life
• and making us more like him.
• Yes, there are laws and consequences,
• but they are all meant to win our hearts to himself—and hold them there!

Remember: God’s heart is the heart of a merciful father
who does not judge us
as we deserve (Psalm 103:10).

• His love towers over us!
• He is a patient lover who waits, long and unwearied,
• for us to return his love (2 Peter 3:9).

• He is kind and gentle,
• sympathizing with our weakness (Psalm 103:8; Hebrews 4:15) and burning with desire to help us in our difficulties (Psalm 103:12; Hebrews 5:2).

Look into the heart of James’ warnings and see a faithful God who pardons, redeems, and heals (Psalm 103:3-9), and who will never turn his back on us or abandon us (Hebrews 13:5).

• This is the God who longs to fill you with his gifts and grace.
• This is the God who will make you capable of living out the call to holiness that today’s reading describes.
• This is the God whom we worship,
• whom we honor by imitating his mercy, patience, compassion, and a willingness to help.
• This is the God whom we honor in our speech with thanksgiving, praise, honesty, and a declaration of his goodness.

Given all this, it really isn’t so hard to put away complaining or swearing, is it?

“Father, I want to be like you.

Draw me deeper into your life today,
and fill me with your love,
so that I will overflow with mercy, patience, and love for others.”