Wednesday, February 15, 2012 (Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
To think ourselves imperfect, and others perfect---- that is happiness. That creatures recognize we are without virtue takes nothing from us, makes us no poorer; it is they who by this lose interior joy; for there is nothing sweeter than to think well of our neighbor.
-- St. Therese of Lisieux

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: James 1:19-27
(Hearing and Doing)
19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
20 for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 
22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. 
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Psalms: Psalm 15:2-5
2 He who walks blamelessly does what is right, And speaks truth in his heart;
3 He who doesn’t slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his friend, Nor casts slurs against his fellow man;
4 In whose eyes a vile man is despised, But who honors those who fear Yahweh; He who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;
5 He who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, Nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.
Gospel: Mark 8:22-26
(Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida)
22 He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him.
23 He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.
24 He looked up, and said, “I see men; for I see them like trees walking.”
25 Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly.
26 He sent him away to his house, saying, “Don’t enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village.”