Luke & Paul are a powerful duo: one expert in health of the body, the other health of the soul

God speaks to us, but are we listening? He speaks to us in creation, in our conscience, through other Christians, through the canon of Scripture, and pre-eminently in his Son, Jesus.

Life without God is a living hell. Life with God can feel like hell, but it's leading to heaven. Jesus sees all the way into our hearts and doesn't jump back in fear. He loves us, and gives us room for repentance. He invites us to bring our hearts confidently to receive mercy and grace.

God puts a hunger for love in us, and loves us with exactly that kind of love. We are invited to mirror that love here below.

We are equally susceptible to headache and heartache. God gives us resources to heal the body and the soul. We have access to a faith bigger than our own, a community of faith, the sacraments which mediate God's grace to us, and the freedom to confess and drop the weights that are dragging us down.

What does it mean to be wise? In his Epistle, James teaches us three components of true wisdom. True wisdom comes from God, and where something comes from matters. Second, wisdom is more ethical than abstract because it involves action. Third, true wisdom leads to maturity and wholeness.

Words are a matter of life and death. Speech is deceptive with regard to its directive power, destructive potential, and duplicitous productions. In a world where everyone has a proverbial microphone, how can we embody the living Word of Jesus?

Often we judge others by appearances. James tells us not to judge others by their appearances. The syrophoenician widow acknowledges her unworthiness and Christ's worthiness. Only by being fully honest with ourselves and others will we discover Christ's worth which he then imparts to us.

God's "voice of love" is a powerful force that, when welcomed and listened to with humbleness, changes us. The Church is called to be the instrument for that love to each other and to the rest of our neighbors. Truly caring about "the other" is a mark of pure relegion.

Solomon receives wisdom to build God's house, and study human love and life (Song of Songs and Proverbs). Solomon's greater Son, Jesus, builds God's greater house (the church) and leads worship in it, comes as Bridegroom of his Church, and embodies God's wisdom for us.