James Chapter 2:
My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while you say to the poor man, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you, is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme that honorable name which was invoked over you?
If you really fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well. But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
Church Militant:
This may be the most difficult and painful chapter in the Scriptures - This is the one that gave Martin Luther and the “Reformers” such fits, and the one we fall and stumble on the most.
I could spend a few days looking up and listing Scriptures where God tells the Israelites that they were oppressing the poor and denying them justice at the Gate while rigging the courts and the rest of life for the rich. And, That it for this (among other things) that He overthrow the Northern Kingdom of Samaria and the southern Kingdom of Judah.
James, here, is saying that the New Israel (the Church) has the same problem that the old Israel had, and that God won’t tolerate it any more from us than He did from them.
Someone I know went on a tour on one of the Pre-Revolutionary War Era churches in Boston. When the tour guide asked her name, he pointed to one of the front pews and said that was her pew - Her ex-husband’s ancesters had furnished all of the mohagany for the church, and that was one of the ways people had of “buying pews” in those days.
At St. Mary’s, we recently broke tradition and baptized a rich family’s baby on a Sat. instead of the Sunday as would have been usual - He was even allowed to bring in a guest priest. I’m extending mercy to my friend (there’s a long story I can’t talk about here, but there was a lot of acrimony and bad feelings, and some people behaved quite badly), But I really don’t know why he didn’t just do it at his new parish with his new pastor (also a friend of mine).
I understand the Church received a much needed grant of money which was used to repair the roof, but I don’t see that (+ what else I know) as valid and licit reason for breaking with the Christian Tradition of Baptizing into the Body of Christ in the presence of the Body of Christ.
And, I’m sure that we can all think when we’ve shown the front pew to the nicely dressed couple while telling the smelly homeless guy to sit in the back. or, Chosen the well dressed man with the squeeky voice instead the shabbily dressed man with the booming voice as a Lector for Mass. or, Invited the guy with the Mercedes S-Class and the “Investments” instead the guy who had to take the bus and was absolutely broke to join us at Mass and Bible Study. or, Brought the guy with the boat and the huge house instead of the one with the rusty bike and a rented hovel to the K of C meeting…
(Real pity, because the guys with the Merc & the boat doesn’t want to hear about it, while the guys who are broke are starving for it and would be so grateful to God you wouldn’t believe it)
Your Brother in Christ, Michael
I’m sure I can jump in here and there, but frankly, I’m not very good at reflections or meditations. My words really flow mainly when I’m challenging something somebody else said! 
However, you have a good point.
