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Home , James the Great

Sunday 25 July 2021

James the

Readings

Acts 11: 27- 12: 2;

At that time prophets came down from to Antioch. 28One of them named stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. 29The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in ; 30this they did, sending it to the elders by and Saul.

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. 2He had James, the of John, killed with the sword.

Matthew 20: 20-28;

Then the mother of the sons of came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favour of him. 21And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, ‘Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ 22But answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We are able.’ 23He said to them, ‘You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two . 25But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 26It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; 28just as the came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’

Reflection Prepared by Sarah

Today we celebrate the of St James the Great, James the Apostle. He and his brother John were, according to Mark, called by Jesus, Boanerges – the sons of thunder. The reason for the name is not known. We have to guess – perhaps they were impetuous or quick tempered? There was that incident when Jesus and his disciples were passing through Samaria. They were not welcome in a village because they were heading for Jerusalem – relations between Jews and were not good; and according to Luke the brothers asked, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” Jesus rebuked them. James and John were part of an inner circle of disciples with Peter who were present at key events in Jesus’ ministry; at the raising of Jairus’ daughter, at the transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane. Todays’ recounts a not especially flattering incident of the Apostle. It is common to all three synoptic , but Mark and Luke have the ask the question of Jesus themselves. Matthew has their mother ask for them! “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” This is raw ambition. This is not, “Will my two sons, sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom?” This is a request. Matthew records that the other disciples were angry when they heard it. Were they angry at the suggestion that following Jesus would lead to importance and glory – or were they just angry because they hadn’t got in there first with their request for such important places in Jesus’ kingdom? Jesus replies to the brothers with a question of his own; “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” “We are able” the brothers reply – without apparent hesitation despite Jesus’ warning. Two desires, at least, are being shown in this request. Ambition is one. The second is wanting some certainty of reward for effort. Jesus does not say ambition is wrong, but he challenges the focus of the ambition for James and John. He challenges an ambition that is about seeking great things for ourselves. Jesus makes no promise, offers no reward. Instead he says, “whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many”. In the event, James did lose his life for the Gospel. He was executed on the orders of in or abut the year 44, the first apostle to be martyred. Ambition will be one of service rather than personal glory. For we follow a Messiah who, as Paul writes in Philippians, “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God, as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness”. (2: 6,7). Jesus – the servant King – who calls us to be ambitious to serve and to give ourselves for others, just as he did himself. The language of “servant” and “slave” can make 21st century listeners feel uncomfortable. These words are used more frequently with practices that are unacceptable in society. It would also be easy to misunderstand Jesus’ words, to imply a loss of self-worth, or one to be trampled upon. The very opposite is true. Jesus healed and taught with authority. He went where he knew God wanted him to go. He did not crowd-please. He did not fulfil all their expectations of him. Jesus was clear that he was there to do his Father’s will, and he knew himself to be the Son, deeply loved by the Father. At his baptism he had heard those words from heaven as the dove descended on him, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (: 11). Jesus had total self worth as the beloved Son of the Father and it was from this self worth and love that he chose to empty himself and be a servant and be obedient even unto death. His service came out of self worth, knowing himself loved by the Father, and from this love, choosing to lay his life down. It was not the nails that held him to the cross – but his love for the world. At baptism, we hear ourselves being affirmed as deeply loved as a son or a daughter of God and our self worth is in our identity as a child of God. That is enough for us to know and to follow in lives of faith and service. We do not ask what our reward shall be for following Christ, and we serve not through our human effort but through the love that God has poured into our hearts. Jesus asked James and John, “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” Dutch Catholic Priest, Henri Nouwen’s short book “Can you drink the cup?” reflects on three images of the cup – Holding, Lifting and Drinking. With pen and ink sketches to aid reflection, Nouwen writes; “Jesus’ inviting us to drink the cup without offering the reward we expect is the greatest challenge of the spiritual life. It breaks through all human calculations and expectations. It defies all our wishes to be sure in advance. It turns our hope for a predictable future upside down and pulls down our self-invented safety devices. It asks for the most radical trust in God, the same trust that made Jesus drink the cup to the bottom.” This cup is not like any other. Fresh in our minds are sporting cups held high. Of sports individuals and captains representing their teams, holding a victory cup. These speak of success and of winning. Nouwen writes, “The cup that Jesus speaks about is neither a symbol of victory nor a symbol of death. It is a symbol of life, filled with sorrow and joys that we can hold, lift and drink as a blessing and a way to salvation”. “Do you wish to go away?” Jesus asked his disciples after some had deserted him after some difficult teaching. “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life” Peter replied on behalf of those who stayed. As Christians we are continually being invited to share Christ’s cup, to follow his example of service through love, and to trust in the transforming power of God’s grace when we say “yes”, hold the cup and drink from it. The cup is one we share with Jesus and with each other. It’s part of the mystery of the Eucharist. Though at present, the physical common cup is suspended for reasons of health, the one cup is still at the heart of the Eucharist – still, in the cup is our life, hidden with Christ in God. We are invited to share the cup and drink from it as Christ did, all the way, and for our lives by God’s grace, to bring Christ’s life to others. To lead lives of service and to trust God. To both give and to receive. Nouwen ends his book, “When we drink that cup as Jesus drank it, we are transformed into the one body of the living Christ, always dying and rising for the salvation of the world”. Prayers of Intercession Offered by Wendy Malkinson

Knowing God’s love for us, let us turn to him now.

Father, we commend to your love all Christian communities, especially the churches dedicated to the Apostle St James. We ask for your blessing on the people of Bishampton and the work of the church there. We thank God for the dedication of churchwardens Andy and Peter, Delia their Lay Reader and all who support them in their ministry.

Lord, we ask that you will guide us in building up the kingdom across our seven villages. Help us not to be afraid when setbacks come, when we feel downhearted. Increase our trust in you, that we may persevere with all that is good and let go that which must be changed.

We pray for John and Martin, for Sarah and all church leaders guiding us as difficult decisions are made across the Diocese. As we work together, give us a greater longing for your love and healing, and a deeper commitment to serve you with humble hearts.

Father we commend to your love those tangled political situations that seem impossible to solve. Our Government as they discern the ways forward at this time of concern of Covid infections rising. May those with vision be valued and heard.

Around the world we pray for the relief of the suffering, the oppressed, the refugees and innocent communities caught up in conflict. May love overcome hate.

Father we commend to your love our neighbourhoods, our families and friends and all the joys and sorrows of these times.

We bring to you our homes in which we live and work, eat and relax - and invite you into them all.

Father we commend to your love those who are hurting, whether in body mind or spirit. For those in hospital, those suffering from the effects of Covid, those undergoing treatment, those with addictions or lacking strength to cope. We bring before you those who are on our mind …….

May they sense your presence. May they feel your power, may they be overwhelmed with light and truth, with healing and strength.

Father we commend to your love those who approach death with fear and those who die unprepared to meet you.

We hold to your mercy those who have died recently, remembering among them, Rob Speed and Wynn. We remember our own dear departed loved ones and thank you for all they have meant to us.

Father, help us all to lay all these prayers at Jesus’s feet and accept the rest and peace that are ours that he freely wants to give. And when we pick them back up, help us to lay them back down again, and again. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.