Although the Second Reading in Ordinary Time is a continuous reading from one of the Letters, there are occasional happy coincidences in their message and that of the Gospel of the Day. Today is one such occasion.

 

Just as the disciples squabbled about who was the greatest among them, so it would seem, did the early Christians. Two thousand years later, this same letter could be written to us!

James highlights the fact that jealousy, envy and ambition are at the root of many of the ills in any community. In such a diverse community as a parish, this is even more likely to be a problem - though, of course, such problems are not limited to parishes!

 

Some may envy the wealth of others; others may envy the happy family life of another. Some may be ambitious to be seen as indispensable to the parish priest - others may covet the role of leadership of a parish group or committee. The list is endless - and we can all look at the lives of our own parishes - and see which apply to us! Sometimes, the envy may be small-scale - at other times, it can cause serious division and deep hurt to the community. However large or small it is, though, any jealousy undermines the common good.

 

In all such disputes, we need the wisdom of the peacemakers in a community who are able to see the truth of both sides and communicate it in a way which goes beyond hypocrisy and entrenched positions. The role of peacemaker if not always an easy one - it is all too easy to be misunderstood - or seen to be working for the “opposition”. It may mean that you have to point out that a “desired outcome” may speak more of a person’s own desires than something which addresses the needs of the community.

 

And yet, by grace of God, all communities have within them people who are willing and gifted to act as peace-makers. Such people need to be recognised and cherished - without them, our communities would be fragmented and very unhappy places.