Faith in Action - November 14
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 87, 90; PM Psalm 136, Joel 3:9-17; James 2:1-13; Luke 16:10-17(18)
Alongside the words from the Letter of James, I am drawn toward a prayer taped inside the front cover of my Bible. (It is secured there because I kept losing it.) Before the Saint Stephen’s Friday Bible study group reads Holy Scripture, we say this prayer together:
As we open our Bibles,
we also open our hearts;
That these words of truth may fall
upon the very fabric of our lives.
May these ancient scriptures
come alive within us:
To inspire, to heal, to cleanse,
to teach, to restore, and
to guide our hearts and minds.
Lord, come weave your words of life in us. Amen.
I did not write this prayer. The midweek Bible Study at St. Thomas in Huntsville introduced me to it. I continue sharing this prayer, as it opens us to be moved spiritually and corporally by the study of scripture. It names the bold intention and hope that the words of the Bible may “come alive within us”. This reminds me of Friday’s guidance from James to “be doers of the word, and not merely hearers”. This prayer also names that the Good News is a source of life for us. Reading scripture can be a means of renewal, refreshment, and nourishment. As we immerse ourselves in study, that holy breath of God gets intermingled in our own respiration.
Join me in breathing in that opening prayer and the words of James – servant of God and of Jesus. As I reflect on the scripture today, the words from James are a call to authentic, integrated Christian living. Today’s theme is the danger of partiality, for it is divisive and sinful. People ascribing to life in God’s law and love are not to make distinctions based on socio-economics. James provides the scenario of inviting someone in “fine clothes” to a seat, yet having someone in dirty clothes to stand or sit on the floor; this is not mirroring Christ-like hospitality or compassion. Elevating one while demeaning another violates the Law of God…and one of the big commandments: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is hypocrisy when a faith community believes “our glorious Lord Jesus Christ” and actions reveal a preference for the rich. And so, James asks his hearers to examine how they have been treated by people in positions of influence and power. Who shows them respect? Who discounts them?
Much like the apostle Paul, James strives for consistency in Christian witness – so that the fabric of this new movement has continuity in its commitment to Christ. Like the recipients of James’ letter, we are Christians spread far and wide. We are divided by the physical restrictions imposed by COVID-19 precautions, and the current political and societal concerns facing our country. Each of us are trying to follow the law of God and the steps of Jesus, though we may approach faithfulness from different perspectives.
The Letter of James challenges us to move past the partiality that may lead us to listen only to those who share our perspective on a social or political paradigm. James challenges us to return to the foundation: Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. As we rise to the challenges, may God’s redeeming and reconciling love flow through each of us to enrich our community, and may we have courage to live into the words we believe.
-- Katherine+
Questions for Reflection
How do you interact with those who hurt or dishonor you? Do you strive to please them? Avoid them? Or some other reaction?
Think of a source of division in your life. What brought redemption or healing?
Daily Challenge
At the core of James’ letter is faith in action. Write down three ways that your faith could be expressed in your Christian witness today. Prayerfully put at least one of these into action.