February 4th - Reflection

James 3:13-18 (NRSV)
A gentle life born of wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Reflection
Here we see wisdom as in the wisdom God chooses for us to take on. Not so much a wisdom of knowledge, but more a wisdom of mercy. The result of faith is action in mercy. The result of wisdom from God is action  brought on by compassion. Compassion that becomes active and bears good fruit.

So, you can't just go about sounding all wise and good. Without the wisdom of the heart the wisdom of the head is just noise. Noise because it's not backed up by action. Noise, because it's selfish ego building. Noise, because it bears no fruit.

So much in the same way that faith without works is dead; wisdom without active acts of compassion is foolishness.

Prayer
Lord, teach me and be with me in the action of your wisdom. Actions that are full of mercy, compassion. Actions that are peaceable, gentle, and willing to yield. Action that is full of mercy and good fruits. Action without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. Action that is sown in peace. --- Amen