Father Mike Schmitz

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets, but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Chapter two, warning against partiality.

My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, have a seat here please, while you say to the poor man, stand there or sit at my feet, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my beloved brethren, 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?

But you have dishonored the poor man.

Is it not the rich who oppress you?

Is it not they who drag you into court?

Is it not they who blaspheme that honorable 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 keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

For he who said, do not commit adultery, also said, do not kill.

If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty."

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.

Yet mercy triumphs over judgment.