February 12, 2004, Monday of the sixth week in ordinary time.

A reading from the letter of St. James. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

to the 12 tribes in the dispersion. Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you

encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance,

and let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

But if any of you lacks wisdom,

he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly,

and he will be given it.

But he should ask in faith, not doubting.

For the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed

about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the

Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways. The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in high standing, and the rich one in his

lowliness, for he will pass away like the flower of the field.

For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance

vanishes.

So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

The Word of the Lord.

The responsorial Psalm, the response is,

Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live. Before I was afflicted, I went astray,

but now I hold to your promise. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live. You are good and bountiful.

Teach me your statutes.

Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.

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