A reading from the Letter of Saint James 1:1-11
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings.
Brothers and sisters: We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away.
If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you;/ if you trust in God, you too shall live;/ he has set before you fire and water;/ to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand./ Before man are life and death, good and evil,/ whichever he chooses shall be given him./ Immense is the wisdom of the Lord;/ he is mighty in power, and all-seeing./ The eyes of God are on those who fear him;/ he understands man’s every deed./ No one does he command to act unjustly,/ to none does he give license to sin.
Jesus said to his disciples: [“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
Brothers and sisters: We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away.
If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you;/ if you trust in God, you too shall live;/ he has set before you fire and water;/ to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand./ Before man are life and death, good and evil,/ whichever he chooses shall be given him./ Immense is the wisdom of the Lord;/ he is mighty in power, and all-seeing./ The eyes of God are on those who fear him;/ he understands man’s every deed./ No one does he command to act unjustly,/ to none does he give license to sin.
In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.
Jeroboam thought to himself: “The kingdom will return to David’s house.