A Living Gospel
Dear Friends in Christ,
Last week, we began our study of James, called Heart Rhythms! I have been praying with the Letter of James over the past several weeks and I encourage you to do the same, since it is a wealth of wisdom and practical advice. The inspired Word of God is a mine of endless riches. Each word and phrase offers a unique wealth composed by the human author but inspired by the divine author.
James uses a somewhat spiral pattern, first introducing a topic and then returning later to offer greater depth. For example, in James 1:19 we read, “Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger…” counsel related to the listening and speaking. Later, James gives an in-depth reflection on the need to take care in speech (Jas 3:1-12). In part noting, “The tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how a small fire can set a huge forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire… but no human being can tame the tongue.” These verses are a huge help for anyone who struggles to bridle their tongue.
Likewise, in the initial sentences, James offers two pieces of advice that he further elaborates on today. First, he praised the humble or lowly man while cautioning the rich brother (Jas 1:9-10). In today’s passage (Jas 2:1-5) he elaborates on a concern where brothers and sisters, gathered for worship together, are treating the rich favorably while ignoring the poor. He asks the audience - including us - to reflect on this question: did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom? We should hear echoes of the Beatitudes: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God,” (Lk 6:20).
Our central phrase today: “Show no partiality as you adhere to the faith,” Partiality is only natural, while impartiality, hard. We all have our favorites, yet James counsels equanimity; play no favorites. What a challenge! Yet he connects this to having faith in our Lord Jesus. To me at least, saying that as we cling to Christ not showing favorites becomes easier. Or we could say that if we are partial, if we do play favorites, then we may need to reexamine our motivations.
Was it not Jesus who counseled, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Lk 14:12-14) Our Lord expects the good from us, not because we will receive in kind from those who play the game, but he expects the good, precisely because it is the good. And clinging to Christ with hearts open to receive his treasure allows us to bring the Gospel to life in the world. As Christians we are called to become a living Gospel. Bishop James seeks for his people to receive and respond to this invitation.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Wilson
