God's Standards Are Not Our Standards

James 2:1-9 & Mk. 8:27-83

Poor Peter with the best of intentions, he said the wrong thing. When Jesus predicted His own passion and death, Peter tried to tell Him that as long as he was around he was going to make sure that such a thing was never going to happen. Jesus’ reply was swift. "Get behind Me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God's way, but man's." Peter failed to understand that in God's plan the death of Jesus would lead to the glorious life of the resurrection. It was imperative that Jesus should be forceful because He didn't want any of His followers to misunderstand Him. It was only through His death on the cross and His resurrection that He was to secure the salvation of the world.

And again, the first reading from St. James is on the same theme that God views matter so differently from ours. He says in effect just think how you treat a man who is well dressed and one who isn't. The well-dressed person is given preferential treatment in most restaurants and department stores. But the person who dresses in shabby clothes will be generally avoided or ignored. God is not like that. He is not impressed by wealth. If anything, God gives special attention to those who have next to nothing in this life. "It was those who are poor according to the world that God chose, to be rich in faith and to be heirs to the kingdom." God is eager to help those who are generally ignored by the world.

All of us have been favoured with the gift of faith. St. James is urgent about the fact that this faith must move us to abandon the world's sense of values and to adopt God’s ways. What now is our attitude towards those who are ignored or even despised by the world?

Lord Jesus, thank You for saving us through Your death on the cross. May we at all times adopt Your values and standards loving all rich and poor alike.