Paul quotes a passage from Scripture: "I believed and therefore I spoke out". He is quoting from memory and so his quotation may not be too accurate. However it seems he is referring to Psalm 116:10 - "My trust does not fail even when I say, I am truly wretched".

What is important is not the accuracy of Paul's quotation but the fact that God's word has entered so much into his spirit that he readily turns to it in order to make sense of his life. If we in prayer really take to heart the words of Scripture we hear each time we attend Mass, we too will be able to derive much consolation from them, even if we cannot always remember the exact words. For, again what is important is our awareness that God did not leave us in darkness to find our own way through this world. God spoke to us, giving us many guidelines, and promises, many words of encouragement and consolation.

We read this passage today, on the Feast of St James. Paul's quotation aptly describes the apostolic vocation: belief in God and in Jesus will drive us to speak and share our faith with others.