The Epistle reading for today is a continuation of the Letter of James. Tradition has it that it was written by James, the brother of Jesus; however, we really do not know who wrote it. We do know that it was written in excellent Greek and that it reads very much like a sermon. It places a great deal of emphasis on putting into practice our faith. In today’s selection, we are given good counsel regarding strife in the community:
For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, “God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor? (James 3:17-4:12)
James tells his readers that if they give in to popular culture, if they give in to their appetites, what he calls “the way of the world”, then there will be trouble for the community of faith. Rather what we should do is to seek out God’s will for us and live as God would have us live, that is, be pure, peaceable, gentle and merciful. That is a tall order, but doable, according to James, if we submit to God and draw near to God.
Let us pray: Loving Father, drive away from our hearts all envy and wrong desires. Give us the grace of Your Holy Spirit to draw near to You and to submit to Your will as Jesus did, always praying Jesus’ prayer, “Your will be done.” Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, “God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor? (James 3:17-4:12)
James tells his readers that if they give in to popular culture, if they give in to their appetites, what he calls “the way of the world”, then there will be trouble for the community of faith. Rather what we should do is to seek out God’s will for us and live as God would have us live, that is, be pure, peaceable, gentle and merciful. That is a tall order, but doable, according to James, if we submit to God and draw near to God.
Let us pray: Loving Father, drive away from our hearts all envy and wrong desires. Give us the grace of Your Holy Spirit to draw near to You and to submit to Your will as Jesus did, always praying Jesus’ prayer, “Your will be done.” Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Please remember to sign-up for Sunday Fellowship.
Rather than have a service the morning of Thanksgiving, this year we will celebrate a Thanksgiving liturgy on Sunday, 21 November, so that everyone can attend. After the Eucharist, we will have our Thanksgiving luncheon. Please invite your friends and family to offer thanks for all of God’s blessings. Please remember to sign up to bring a dish to share.
Big Mista BBQ fundraiser for the Community Garden, Saturday, 11 December. Melva Pope has tickets, so please pick some up for friends and family. There is also a Facebook page for the event. Here is the link to the Diocese’s website where Neil Strawder is featured front and center: www.epicenter.org
Advent begins on Sunday 28 November. We will switch to Rite I and we will begin Year A in the Lectionary.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Pamela Bowser at M.D. Anderson.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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