First Reading: (Jas 5:9-12)

Do not grumble, brethren, against one another, that you may
not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing
at the doors. As an example of suffering and
patience, brethren, take the prophets who
spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we
call those happy who were steadfast. You have
heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have
seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is
compassionate and merciful. But above all, my
brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by
earth or with any other oath, but let your yes
be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall
under condemnation.

Ps 102:1-4, 8-9, 11-12
R./ The Lord is compassion and
love.

Gospel: (Mk 10:1-12)

Jesus came to the region
of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds
gathered to him again; and again, as his custom
was, he taught them. And Pharisees came up
and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for
a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them,
“What did Moses command you?” They said,
“Moses allowed a man to write a certificate
of divorce, and to put her away.” But Jesus
said to them, “For your hardness of heart he
wrote you this commandment. But from the
beginning of creation, ‘God made them male
and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave
his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they
are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore
God has joined together, let not man put
asunder.” And in the house the disciples asked
him again about this matter. And he said to
them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries
another, commits adultery against her; and if
she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery.”

Reflection:
We all know that patience and perseverance are the two most important
aspects for any successful venture in life. St James in today’s first reading stresses the importance of practising the virtue of patience. In this context we are reminded of the words of St Francis de Sales:“Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself...do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage.” St James warns us that we should not grumble and fight each other. The Apostle also exhorts us that we should in every way help and encourage each other. Let us be genuine and authentic in our dealing with one another. “We must act toward each other as God would act toward us because he is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.” Hence let us ask the Lord to grant us the grace to be credible and authentic witnesses of his compassion and forgiving love in this world.