The Second Lesson                    James 1:17-27
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act-they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

La Segunda Lectura                Santiago 1: 17-27
Todo lo bueno y perfecto que se nos da, viene de arriba, de Dios, que creó los astros del cielo. Dios es siempre el mismo: en él no hay varaciones ni oscurecimientos. Él, porque así lo quiso, nos dio vida mediante el mensaje de la verdad, para que seamos los primeros frutos de su creación. Recuerden esto, queridos hermanos: ustedes deben estar listos para escuchar; en cambio deben ser lentos para hablar y para enojarse. Porque nadie puede forzar la justicia de Dios. Así pues, despójense ustedes de toda impureza y de la maldad que tanto abunda, y acepten humildemente que ese mensaje tiene poder para salvarlos. Pero no basta con oír el mensaje; hay que ponerlo en práctica, pues de lo contrario se estarían engañando  a ustedes mismos. El que solamente oye el mensaje, y no lo practica, es como un hombre que se mira la cara en un espejo: se ve a sí mismo, pero en cuanto da la vuelta se le olvida cómo es. Pero que no olvida lo que oye, sino que se fija atentamente en la ley perfecta de la verdad, y permanece firme cumpliendo lo que ella manda, será feliz en lo que hace. Si alguno cree ser religioso, pero no sabe poner freno a su lengua, se engaña. La religión pura y sin mancha delante de Dios el Padre es esta: ayudar a los huérfanos y a las viudas en sus aflicciones, y no mancharse con la maldad del mundo.

The Gospel                                Mark 7:31-37
Jesus returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."