A Place to Reflect
The readings from today's liturgy are strong reprimands to some of the hearers. James' words could easily be shouted at some in our society today. He was rebuking the wealthy who displayed little concern or respect for workers. Likewise he was not overlooking those who earned much but kept it all to themselves
In the gospel Mark recalls for us a moment when Jesus spoke severe and severing words to his disciples: it is better to go trough life without a complete body if a part of the body is a source of sin.
What is its meaning for us? Most of us are not wealthy. Most of us are in tact. So what should we take from these reading?
We should consider again detachment from so much and attachment to Jesus. A call to give up what breaks us away from Jesus. This is a call to attach ourselves to the love of Jesus Christ. It is a choice! It's our choice to be "salted with fire." This phrase's meaning? Recall two Sundays back: Pentecost ... Come, Holy Spirit, come! Come and kindle in our hearts the fire of your divine love .... Kindle in our hearts the fire of your divine life. A petition to be purified, to be attached to Jesus. Salted to be preserved in the fire of God's love!!!
