The first reading for today is from the Letter of James. It is a passage structured in three parts: the problem is identified (4:1–3), its incompatibility with God is described (vv. 4–7), and the cure of the vice is indicated (vv. 7–10).

In Jewish and Hellenistic thought all problems arise from four prime vices: desire, pleasure, fear, and grief. Earlier, James described “desire” as the root of temptation ever in conflict with heavenly wisdom: “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15) These conflicts stem from “desire,” which cannot yield anything good: “You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain.” This is James’ parallel saying to the well-known: “the love of money (desire) is the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10).

Temptation comes, not from God but from deceiving hearts and passions. Despite conversion and baptism, Christians are not perfect yet and must strive to let God’s grace rule their hearts progressively in every way. The alternative is a life of desire and envy – and those lead to other vices such as “passion.” (aka pleasure) the second of the four cardinal sins. People covet/desire goods for the sake of pleasure and not for the sake of sharing them with others (see James 2:14-17). From James’ perspective desire and passion are the portals to a worldly focus, turning one’s attention away from God and the Covenant in Christ. Given that the NT speaks of the Covenant as akin to a marriage bond, when one has “eyes” for something else, we are like adulterers, unfaithful to the vows we have taken.

If this is the problem, then what is the cure? At a cosmic level, James casts this conflict as God versus the devil. At a personal level we know that evil and vice are not simply the devil’s doing but reside in human hearts. The cure of vice is metaphorically described as a battle and James simply says you have to choose your side.  Choose the way of divine wisdom and “draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (v. 8); let God be Lord of our hearts and lives. It is a life-long project of not hedging our bets by having two Lords, rather seeking a total conversion of heart and life. If the problem lies in the human heart, so does the antidote: our free will infused by the grace of God; always there for the asking.

James’ exhortation concludes with the traditional appeal for a complete change of mind, heart, and action: “Be humble and God will raise you up.” A first step is to have the habit of a daily examen (a good Jesuit practice) along with the clarity and wisdom of self-appraisal as encouraged by St. Francis of Assisi: “For what a person is before God, that he is and no more.” (Admonition XIX).

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