Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds, and how we fit into that story today. It is day 350. You know what that means. You can do math. There's only 365 days in a year. And so that means we're a few days away from the conclusion of this. We're actually, we've departed from the historical books.
Now we've concluded the Acts of the Apostles yesterday. And today we're starting exclusively, essentially letters and then the book of Revelation at the end in a little over a week from now. But today we're reading James chapter one and two, as well as Philippians chapters three and four. That's the conclusion of the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians.
and Proverbs chapter 30, verses 1 through 6. As always, the Bible translation I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a Year.
You can also subscribe to this podcast and receive daily episodes and daily updates for the last 15 days of this podcast. You can do it if you like. If you don't, that is just fine. You need to stay 350. We're reading from James chapter 1 and 2, Philippians chapters 3 and 4, and Proverbs chapter 30, verses 1 through 6.
The Letter of James Chapter 1 Salutation James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greeting. Faith and Wisdom Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials. For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
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Chapter 2: What background context does Fr. Mike provide about the letter of James?
Therefore, put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls." Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
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. Faith without works is dead. What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
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Chapter 3: How does the letter of James emphasize the relationship between faith and works?
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do, and the God of peace will be with you. Acknowledgement of the Philippians Gifts
I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I complain of want, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want.
I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
Chapter 4: What does James teach about the importance of wisdom in trials?
And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only. For even in Thessalonica, you sent me help once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit which increases to your credit. I have received full payment and more.
I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Final greetings and benediction. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.
All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. The book of Proverbs chapter 30 verses 1 through 6.
Sayings of Agur. The words of Agur, son of Jaca of Massa. The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ukal, surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name and what is his son's name? Surely you know. Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. Father in heaven, we give you praise and glory. Thank you so much.
Another day. Thank you, Lord, for another day, for this next step, for the letter of James, for the conclusion of St. Paul's letter to the Philippians. We thank you, God. We ask you to please help us to put these into practice. Help us to put this instruction into action in our lives. Help us to be not only hearers of the word, but also doers of your word.
Lord God, let this time we've spent listening to your word, not simply wash over us and we just forget it and are unchanged by it, but help us to put this into practice, to put the love in our hearts into action in our lives and help us to do all of this in the name of Jesus and for the glory of God, the Father.
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Chapter 5: How does James address the issue of partiality in the church?
I count everything, every gift in the world, every good thing I can do in the world, every possession I could possibly have, every accomplishment I could possibly have, I count that all to be fertilizer, we'll say, compared to knowing Jesus Christ.
not having a righteousness on my own based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible, I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Ah, so, so important. So good.
Again, we're not saying one or the other, not saying faith or works. We're saying faith and works are so, so incredibly important. But also I love this. St. Paul's last exhortation. This is chapter four, verse four. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand.
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The last words that St. Paul has for us today in his letter to the Philippians are also just so good about what we feed ourselves with. He says,
anything worthy of praise, think about these things. There's this thing called the law of exposure. It's a psychological principle. The law of exposure is those things that you think about, those things you expose yourself to, those are the things that shape your heart and they shape your mind. That's one of the reasons why for the last 350 days, we've been listening to God's word.
The law of exposure is that if we think about things that are pure and good and beautiful and excellent, then those things take root in our lives and we become like them. And that's what we've been striving after. Again, not just to learn more about God, although that's so important, but to be transformed, to be like him, because that's what he desires. He desires us to have hearts like him.
And so that's what I'm praying for. I'm praying to all of us separated brethren and those who are not even Christian yet, maybe those who are on their way in RCIA to get baptized, that all of us one day may be united in Christ Jesus, our Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit. in one body, giving glory to the Father. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike.
I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.
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