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Venerdi, 29 marzo 2024 - Santi Simplicio e Costantino ( Letture di oggi)

James 3


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1Only a few of you, my brothers, should be teachers, bearing in mind that we shal receive a stricterjudgement.2For we all trip up in many ways. Someone who does not trip up in speech has reached perfection andis able to keep the whole body on a tight rein.3Once we put a bit in the horse's mouth, to make it do what we want, we have the whole animal underour control.4Or think of ships: no matter how big they are, even if a gale is driving them, they are directed by a tinyrudder wherever the whim of the helmsman decides.5So the tongue is only a tiny part of the body, but its boasts are great. Think how smal a flame can setfire to a huge forest;6The tongue is a flame too. Among al the parts of the body, the tongue is a whole wicked world: itinfects the whole body; catching fire itself from hel , it sets fire to the whole wheel of creation.7Wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish of every kind can al be tamed, and have been tamed, byhumans;8but nobody can tame the tongue -- it is a pest that wil not keep stil , ful of deadly poison.9We use it to bless the Lord and Father, but we also use it to curse people who are made in God'simage:10the blessing and curse come out of the same mouth. My brothers, this must be wrong-11does any water supply give a flow of fresh water and salt water out of the same pipe?12Can a fig tree yield olives, my brothers, or a vine yield figs? No more can sea water yield fresh water.13Anyone who is wise or understanding among you should from a good life give evidence of deeds donein the gentleness of wisdom.14But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or selfish ambition, do not be boastful or hide thetruth with lies;15this is not the wisdom that comes from above, but earthly, human and devilish.16Wherever there are jealousy and ambition, there are also disharmony and wickedness of every kind;17whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essential y something pure; it is also peaceable,kindly and considerate; it is ful of mercy and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality orhypocrisy in it.18The peace sown by peacemakers brings a harvest of justice.