Servant of the Word II: Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

(Optional Memorial for the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites, Religious)

Proper for the Memorial of the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites

Additional information about the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites

“Prayer in the Garden” by Sebastiano Ricci, c. 1730

Readings for Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time [1]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading I: James 1:1-11

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings.

Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters,

when you encounter various trials,

for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

And let perseverance be perfect,

so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

But if any of you lacks wisdom,

he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly,

and he will be given it.

But he should ask in faith, not doubting,

for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea

that is driven and tossed about by the wind.

For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,

since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways.

The brother in lowly circumstances

should take pride in high standing,

and the rich one in his lowliness,

for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.”

For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass,

its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes.

So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

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Commentary on Jas 1:1-11

We see in this introduction to the Epistle of James that it is almost certainly not the Apostle named James (the Greater) who writes it. The introduction, which would have identified the author as such, rather says he is: “slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." It is most likely this letter was composed by St. James (the Lesser), often called the “Brother of the Lord.”

"Chapter 1 is an overview of the themes developed in the rest of the letter. These included encouragement in times of trial (James 1:2-4; 5:7-11), the need for wisdom (James 1:5; 3:13-18), the necessity of faith (James 1:5-8; 5:13-18), the treatment of the rich and poor (James 1:9-11; 2:1-7; 4:13 ̶ 5:6), the call to put faith into action (James 1:22-25; 2:14-26), and the need for a controlled tongue (James 1:26; 3:1-12).[4]

He begins his letter using the Old Testament reference to “the twelve tribes in the dispersion,” or diaspora, referring to non-Palestinian Jews. In these opening verses, the author addresses the value of trials and temptation. The objective of these obstacles is to bring the Christian to spiritual maturity. These opening verses conclude with a theme frequently stated in this letter: the idea that secular success is not necessarily a sign of God’s favor, and the person who enjoys such success should accept it with humility.

CCC: Jas 1:5-8 2633, 2737

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75 76

R. (77a) Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.

Before I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I hold to your promise.