Showing all posts by Elija

James 2:1–13

My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while you say to the poor man, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you, is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme that honorable name by which you are called?

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James 1:19–27

Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing. If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

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With the start of the new year, I would like to begin systematically meditating on a book of the Holy Scriptures again. This time, I have chosen the Epistle of James. As always, we will include links at the end of each text for those who would prefer to listen to a meditation on the reading or gospel of the day.

Jas 1:2-18

Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.

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According to the traditional calendar, the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is celebrated on 2 January or the following Sunday. We will therefore listen to the short Gospel reading for this occasion:

Lk 2:21

At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The name Jesus means “God saves” and expresses in a very simple way what God has done for our salvation through Himself. Through His Son, God rescued man from his desperate situation, who could never have freed himself from the chains of sin and death. For this, man needs the grace of God, who manifested Himself as man in the Messiah of all peoples.

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