A reading from the letter of James.

Every worthwhile gift, every genuine benefit comes from above, descending from the Creator of the heavenly luminaries, who cannot change and is never in shadow.  God willingly gave birth to us with a word spoken in truth, so that we may be, as it were, the first fruits of God’s creatures.

Humbly welcome the word which has been planted in you because it has power to save you.  But act on this word – because if all you do is listen to it, you are deceiving yourselves.

Pure, unspoiled religion, in the eyes of Our God, the Creator, is this: coming to the aid of widows and orphans when they need it, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by this world.

The Word of God recorded in the letter of James.