"Look before you leap" is an English idiom which tells us to be careful and to weight the costs before doing something. Sometimes it is only after we get into trouble that we realise that we had been too rash or too quick in doing or saying something. So, before we endeavour into something which could be dangerous or highly risky, we should think things through.
In today's Gospel, we come across St. James whose Feast we celebrate today, and his brother John, the two sons of Zebedee, who were bold and appear to be rash. Their mother was equally bold in asking Jesus for her sons to be seated on the left and right of Jesus in His Kingdom. Jesus' reply is indeed classic... We read: "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can." He replied, "My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.""
Indeed, we are sometimes like James, asking for something without knowing the consequences. Does this mean we must be careful and not take risks? No. Sometimes we need to be bold. We need to be willing to take risks, especially when preaching the Good News. But at the same time, we should be aware of the kind of risk we are taking. We should not be reckless in our efforts, but be knowledgeable of the situation before us. There is a time and place for everything, and we should constantly listen to God's prompting and let Him guide us.
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