Pentecost 15: 18.09.09
Sunday Two of Five Straight RCL Sundays on James
The verse immediately before this passage got my attention -- it had to do with avoiding the stain of the world. That was the lens by which I explored this passage.
James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17
1 My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
8 You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 11 For the one who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
Episode 10: Ken Brown of Denver Trinity UMC
Episode 9: A Mindful First Chat with Annie Arnoldy
Episode 8: Sarah Calvert, Virginia Conference of the UMC
Episode 7: Wybra Price of the Louisiana Conference
Episode 6: Zach Bechtold-- Bozeman UMC
Episode 5: Our Three Co-Lay Leaders of Mountain Sky Conference
Episode 4: Al Strauss, Chair of Responsible Stewardship
Episode 3: A Mindful Discussion with Jeff Rainwater
Episode 2 -- An Interview with Bruce Berger
Episode 1 -- A Mindful Interview with Angela Thomas
Episode Zero -- Introduction
Mindful Leader --Transitional Episode
Transfiguration Sunday -- Jesus Revealed in our Valleys
Epiphany + 6 - Sow a New Life
Epiphany + 5 -- Blessed to be a Blessing
Epiphany + 4 -- Faithful to the Call
Epiphany + 3 -- Be Still My Soul
Epiphany - I heard the Bells
Epiphany +4 - To Love as God Loves
Epiphany + 3 -- Listening in Kindness
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