Faithful Conversations #82

Introduction to Readers:

This week marks the fourth go-round on James in the Lectionary (there is one more). While researching this week’s passage, I stumbled upon an excellent commentary by a man named Doug Bratt, a retired minister of the Christian Reformed Church of North America, a denomination with Dutch roots and Calvinist bent. What especially caught my attention was his reference to Thomas Jefferson, primary author of the Declaration of Independence and our third President. Teaching Jefferson always proves complicated, especially owing to his toxic relationship to slavery. You might also find his views on religion surprising!

Thanks for visiting this space again and I hope your reading and reflections on scripture are going well! I am on the road for part of this week attending an “All-70s Reunion” out in West Fargo where I graduated high school in 1975. In fact, I will be speaking at a memorial service that is part of the reunion activities, so that should be a unique experience. After a short summary of the common themes among this week’s readings, I am sharing the commentary on James as noted above, and a compelling poem by Walter Brueggemann.

The Readings for Pentecost 18
Jeremiah 11: 18-20
Psalm 54
James 3: 13 – 4: 3, 7-8a
Mark 9: 30-37

Common Themes in the Pentecost 18 Readings
The common themes among the readings for Pentecost 18 emphasize trust in God amidst persecution and suffering, as seen in Jeremiah’s plea for divine justice and the psalmist’s cry for deliverance. Humility and submission to God are highlighted in James, who contrasts earthly ambition with the peace and righteousness that come from heavenly wisdom. In Mark, Jesus teaches that true greatness comes through humility and service, as he predicts his own suffering and elevates the least, symbolized by a child. Together, the readings call for reliance on God’s justice, humility, and a reversal of worldly expectations of power.

Focus Reading: James 3: 13 – 4: 3, 7-8a

¹³ Who is wise and knowledgeable among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant and lie about the truth. ¹⁵ This is not wisdom that comes down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. ¹⁶ For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

4 Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? ² 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. ³ You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Reflections: 

Here is the link for the commentary by Doug Bratt.