September 2, 2012, Second Reading

The Letter of Saint James    1: 17-18, 21-22, 27

1:17 Every excellent gift and every perfect gift is from above, descending from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor any shadow of alteration.
1:18 For by his own will he produced us through the Word of truth, so that we might be a kind of beginning among his creatures.
1:19 You know this, my most beloved brothers. So let every man be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to anger.
1:20 For the anger of man does not accomplish the justice of God.
1:21 Because of this, having cast away all uncleanness and an abundance of malice, receive with meekness the newly-grafted Word, which is able to save your souls.
1:22 So be doers of the Word, and not listeners only, deceiving yourselves.
1:23 For if anyone is a listener of the Word, but not also a doer, he is comparable to a man gazing into a mirror upon the face that he was born with;
1:24 and after considering himself, he went away and promptly forgot what he had seen.
1:25 But he who gazes upon the perfect law of liberty, and who remains in it, is not a forgetful hearer, but instead a doer of the work. He shall be blessed in what he does.
1:26 But if anyone considers himself to be religious, but he does not restrain his tongue, but instead seduces his own heart: such a one’s religion is vanity.
1:27 This is religion, clean and undefiled before God the Father: to visit orphans and widows in their tribulations, and to keep yourself immaculate, apart from this age.

Comments

Leave a Reply