Wednesday 16 February 2022

Today is Wednesday the 16th of February, in the sixth week of Ordinary time.
The Choir of Holy Sepulchre London, directed by Peter Asprey, sing 'God be in my Head', by Peter Horton.

Today's reading is from the Letter of James.
James 1:19-27
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

'Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger'.
How do these words sit with you? Without judgement, spend some time now reflecting on your relationship with listening...with speaking...with anger...

We are also to be doers of the word, not merely hearers.
Do you find yourself today as a doer? Or are you struggling to move past the hearing stage? Again, without judgement, take a moment to reflect on this...

As you listen to the reading again, you might like to pause the audio after a line that has particularly stood out to you, pray with it, and resume the audio when ready...

As this prayer time draws to a close, hold whatever has stayed with you or stirred in you the most, and give it to God... Ask God for whatever it is you need from this time...


Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.