Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (CL)

James 2:1-13

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. ² For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, ³ and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” ⁴ have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? ⁵ Listen, my beloved brothers, 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? ⁶ But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? ⁷ Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

⁸ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. ⁹ But if you show partiality, you are committing 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 he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹² So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. ¹³ For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

I prefer the last statement, "Mercy triumphs over judgment." It is such a great reminder of people that we can not make distinctions. We can not judge our neighbor. We should not tell our neighbor that he is doing something wrong. We should all have mercy on the ignorant. We should be gracious to those who tell lies. It does not matter what you believe, act like, or even do. We should live in the Purge.

One should first remember that James is talking about those within the church. He is talking about the body of believers. If you do not believe teach and confess the samething concerning the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, than this may not apply. If you look at St James' illustration of making distinctions, he is talking about where people sit, and whether they have wealth.

You should not treat people differently within the church, because one can afford to pay for a new parking lot. You should not treat people differently strictly based on the way they dress. You should treat people differently on whether they believe the truth or not. Likewise, whether they care about their neighbor or not. These distinctions can teach us that if any of us "fails in one point [he] has become accountable to for all of [the commandments]." 

If you continue in your lifestyle of sin, you fail to love The Lord your God and will lose your faith. Therefore, stand firm in the word of God. Listen to all the words of St James. Listen to the words of St Paul. Hear not only how you have failed, but also how God has had mercy on you. The mercy we receive through Christ's death and resurrection is greater than the Judgment we have with respect to the Law. God has forgiven you and claimed you to be his very own. Treat one another the same.