Action Required!!!

The opening song for our Catholic School Mass was "Take the Word of God with you..." I have enjoyed that song because it tells us what we should be doing as Catholics, Christians, and Disciples. The song also coincided with the first reading from Mass, James 1:19-27. The caption reads very simply, but powerfully, "Be doers of the word and not hearers only." As the commentator states, "The letter of James, from which the first reading is taken, is a no-nonsense, practical approach to religious living. James has very little tolerance for flowery, pious words that evaporate almost as soon as they are spoken. James emphasizes the need to be 'doers of the word'" (Loose Leaf Lectionary, 1885). That is where our action comes in and it is required. We need to listen to God's word but we also need to put that word into practice. Like the old saying goes, "Practice what you preach." We are called to be an example to our brothers and sisters in how we live our lives and our faith. Do as I say and not as I do is not acceptable. Our words and actions go hand-in-hand. As we heard recently, we need to see the face of Christ in our brothers and sisters and we need to treat them accordingly. Pray that God will open our physical ears and our ears of faith to listen to His words and put them into practice. If we are going to take the word of God with us, action is required. Blessings to You!!!