The Hard Truth

In the first reading of James we are confronted with "Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom that he promised to those who love him? But you dishonored the poor. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court? Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you? However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, you shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well .But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors." James 2:5-9 What a hard truth you have shown us, for that is what we do today with each other, in our own churches, of all places. How often do we welcome someone less fortunate than we, how often do we make room for them in our lives. When all too often we know some who are in the poverty level and more, how we go out of our way to let them know they do not belong in (all) our churchs, (all) organizations, (everyone's) lives. It amazing how those who have little to spare, money wise are focused upon more so, and penalized more so, than those who have. Yet today's reading shows us how we are so very partial to all. How we truly sin, it's rampant the sin we do on a daily basis. It's no wonder our Blessed Mother has through the years tried to bring about change in our hearts, yet all we do is seek physical healing, when it's the spiritual we need more than ever.

Jesus is rebuking us today as he rebuked Peter, for our own unbelief in his salvation. "You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do," is what he said to Peter at the end of today's Gospel. Which in turn includes us for the way we lack faith in God and his great love to gives us his own Son. Unless we change, we will always be putting God out of our lives. God Bless you all with a smile in your hearts.