February 20, 2014

Reading

The Letter of  Saint James   2: 1-9

2:1	My brothers, within the glorious faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, do not choose to show favoritism toward persons.
2:2	For if a man has entered your assembly having a gold ring and splendid apparel, and if a poor man has also entered, in dirty clothing,
2:3	and if you are then attentive to the one who is clothed in excellent apparel, so that you say to him, “You may sit in this good place,” but you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit below my footstool,”
2:4	are you not judging within yourselves, and have you not become judges with unjust thoughts?
2:5	My most beloved brothers, listen. Has not God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that God has promised to those who love him?
2:6	But you have dishonored the poor. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you through power? And are not they the ones who drag you to judgment?
2:7	Are not they the ones who blaspheme the good name which has been invoked over you?
2:8	So if you perfect the regal law, according to the Scriptures, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” then you do well.
2:9	But if you show favoritism to persons, then you commit a sin, having been convicted again by the law as transgressors.
2:10	Now whoever has observed the whole law, yet who offends in one matter, has become guilty of all.
2:11	For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not kill.” So if you do not commit adultery, but you kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.
2:12	So speak and act just as you are beginning to be judged, by the law of liberty.
2:13	For judgment is without mercy toward him who has not shown mercy. But mercy exalts itself above judgment.
2:14	My brothers, what benefit is there if someone claims to have faith, but he does not have works? How would faith be able to save him?
2:15	So if a brother or sister is naked and daily in need of food,
2:16	and if anyone of you were to say to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and nourished,” and yet not give them the things that are necessary for the body, of what benefit is this?
2:17	Thus even faith, if it does not have works, is dead, in and of itself.
2:18	Now someone may say: “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works! But I will show you my faith by means of works.
2:19	You believe that there is one God. You do well. But the demons also believe, and they tremble greatly.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to Mark   8: 27-33

8:27	And Jesus departed with his disciples into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way, he questioned his disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”
8:28	And they answered him by saying: “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others perhaps one of the prophets.”
8:29	Then he said to them, “Yet truly, who do you say that I am?” Peter responded by saying to him, “You are the Christ.”
8:30	And he admonished them, not to tell anyone about him.
8:31	And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and by the high priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
8:32	And he spoke the word openly. And Peter, taking him aside, began to correct him.
8:33	And turning away and looking at his disciples, he admonished Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan, for you do not prefer the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.”