Epistle Reading: James 2:1-13
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Lord of glory, with partiality.
For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold
rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy
clothes,
and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and
say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You
stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool,"
have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become
judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of
this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised
to those who love Him?
But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress
you and drag you into the courts?
Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "
You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;
but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted
by the law as transgressors.
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one
point, he is guilty of all.
For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not
murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have
become a transgressor of the law.
So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of
liberty.
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no
mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Gospel Reading: Mark 10:23-32
Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard
it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"
And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus
answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who
trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
And they were astonished beyond measure, saying among
themselves, "Who then can be saved?"
But looking at them, Jesus said, "With men it is impossible,
but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and
followed You."
So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is
no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or
wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's,
"who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time; houses
and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with
persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
"But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus
was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were
afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the
things that would happen to Him:
Saints and Feasts
Xenophon & his Companions; Symeon the Elder of Mount Sinai
