Judges with evil designs

They do not treat all people as equal.

They are not friends of the poor.

They make their own law.

They are us.

Today’s first reading (James 2:1-9) warns us of becoming "judges with evil designs" – giving preference to those who are rich and well-dressed while disrespecting those who are poor and grungy.

This is a chronic problem for many of us Christians.

Sad to say, I have seen this in too many churches: people who are obviously rich are treated with courtesy while people who are obviously poor are watched with suspicion or totally ignored.

When we do these things, our Lord may say to us as he says to Peter in today’s Gospel (Mark 8:27-33): "You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Nor is cyberspace necessarily egalitarian. The holiest people are not always those with the most sophisticated graphics or the most elegant phrases (nay! 'tis not always so).

Sometimes the most authentic holiness and the deepest insights are to be found in people with poorer skills but richer faith.

To be sure, we should always endeavor – as much as we can - to be good stewards of what we have, to dress nicely (especially in church), to keep up our learning, to create beauty, and to use words well.

Yet we must never let any of these externals distract us from what is the most important: lives of faith and service in and through the grace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

My brothers and sisters,
show no partiality
as you adhere to the faith
in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.