There are no women listed in the lectionary for this week, so we are looking at St. James of Jerusalem whose feast day is October 23. He is remembered as the “Brother of our Lord, and Martyr”. The Gospel of Matthew states, “[Jesus] He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?’ And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.’ And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:54-58)
James is traditionally credited with writing the Epistle of James, although some challenge that authorship. We know he was martyred in 62 CE at the instruction of the Sanhedrin (Jewish council). He is also called “James the Just” because Hegesippus, an early church historian, insisted "that he was holy from his mother's womb" and was very pious.
The collect for the feast of James asks that “following the example of your servant James the Just, brother of our Lord, your Church may give itself continually to prayer and to the reconciliation of all who are at variance and enmity...” In this day and age when motives are questioned all too readily, it is even more important for those who call themselves Christians to work and pray for reconciliation.
There is nothing new about differences of opinions. From the very beginning of the church, there has been the question as to whether James was a blood brother, or a cousin, or half-brother. The relationship to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph may not really matter because all can agree that he was a leader of the church in Jerusalem. He presided at the Council of Jerusalem to mediate the issues dividing Jewish and Gentile Christians, such as circumcision and adherence to other Jewish laws.
The record of this meeting is in Acts 15:12-22a. “The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, ‘My brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written, “After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; from its ruins I will rebuild it, and I will set it up, so that all other peoples may seek the Lord—even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called. Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things known from long ago.” Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood. For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.’ Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.”
Because he was open to seeing that God was doing a new thing among the Gentiles, by bringing them into the household of faith, James opened the door for inclusion. The story of Christianity would have been much different, if he had insisted on following certain rules and regulations before conversion. James did not slam God’s door in the face of the Gentiles who were being converted, and the fledgling church grew.
We can follow in the footsteps of this early council in our daily lives. Instead of looking for differences, let us follow the tenets of Presiding Bishop Curry’s Way of Love and look for ways to bring hope and love instead of further division.
The Epistle for October 23 calls us to remember “the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received…that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures…” We could echo what St. Paul says, “by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” Like James and Paul, and all Christians throughout the ages, we are called to 'proclaim and so [others can] come to believe.' (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
We have good news of new life, reconciliation, freedom and love to proclaim through word and example. James saw that God was acting among the early church to “rebuild the dwelling of David…so that all other peoples may seek the Lord--even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called.”
Where do you see God breaking through to do a new thing?
How can you work with God to bring about reconciliation or be a loving presence?
Starting next week, we’ll look at how Gratitude can help us recognize God at work in our lives and around us. Being thankful may help us find ways to seek common ground, reconciliation, and healing in our lives and relationships.
