Father Mike Schmitz

James talks about true religion and false religion.

He says, if anyone thinks he's religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, the man's religion is vain.

I think that's fascinating, isn't it?

Where we think, what does our speech have to do anything to do with belonging to true religion?

belonging to the Lord for real in the depths of our heart.

Well, St.

James will go on tomorrow.

We're going to hear about this more.

He'll go on to talk a little bit more about how our speech reveals the truth of our heart and how we will be reliable for every word that is uttered.

And I think it's really remarkable.

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

And again, I can go back to this because how often do we say words that ought not to be said?

Oh my gosh.

We just say stuff, say things of gossip.

We say things of detraction.

We say things, again, we take the Lord's name in vain, all these pieces.

And we realize that when we do that, we are demonstrating that we don't belong to the Lord.

This is just bonkers.

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.

Again, taking care of those that no one else is taking care of.