THURSDAY, November 11 (Martin of Tours) Veterans’ Day (U.S.) Remembrance Day (Canada)

James 1:1-15. If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God.

Christians of the twentieth century, scattered abroad in many tribes and nations, to James, Christian of the first century: Greeting.

Your letter reaches us across the centuries with meaning you perhaps could not have foreseen. No doubt it is always true that the moral life is strengthened by adversity and that a devout and unwavering faith in God brings the wisdom a person needs to live in adversity. We need that reminder as much as our ancestors did.

But some of us have less adversity to strengthen our souls than others. When you speak of the lowly and the rich, you remind us of the contrasts in our own time. Millions are starving while surplus food rots in storage. This is the scale on which moral problems are written in our time. Private vices and public crimes continue, but the real crime for us is global, and the rights and wrongs are multiplied by millions of individual decisions and complicated by politics, economics, and enough “isms” to tax the wisdom of all Christendom.

The green grass fades and the rich will wither away. But how shall God advise a wealthy nation which claims to be the hope of the world? (1960)

PRAY for the Diocese of Karachi (Pakistan)

Ps [83] or 23, 27 * 85, 86; Joel 2:21-27; Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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Nov 11, 2010 at 8:36 am

Written by Mary Ellen Williams,

The meditation on the passage doesn't resonate with me at this moment. The passage made me think of everyday middle class people who go to church regularly and have moments where they don't feel God's presence or are too busy to make time to be with God. It speaks to me of maintaining regular practices to build endurance to ward off doubt. Make time for your practice.

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Nov 11, 2010 at 9:11 am

Written by Donna Rae Swanson,

I came up to my office after sort our mail, and opened a mailer from our local Food Bank. Inside was a greeting card, as well as the usual addressed return envelope. The cover image was a full holiday plate with one pie-shaped section cut our. It said, "Can you pass on one side?" Inside, it gave the cost per serving of green bean casserole, stuffed squash, etc., and asked us to send the cost of one side dish for our clan, to supply from surplus food the means to feed several clans a full holiday meal.
The full reading from James today speaks of the differences between wealth and poverty in his time, and tomorrow's James passage speaks of the strength and goodness of generosity.
It was as if the card had been designed to match the first concern of the first chapter of James!
Please help feed America.

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Nov 11, 2010 at 9:54 am

Written by Andrea,

Amazing that 50 years ago someone was writing about the contrast between rich and poor. Even with my modest salary, I am one of the richest 1% in the world. Indeed, "How shall God advise a wealthy nation which claims to be the hope of the world?" Let me keep that question in my heart.

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Nov 11, 2010 at 11:06 am

Written by sherry,

"...a 'wealthy nation' which 'claims' to be the hope of the world" - and which nation would that be in today's global environment? the rich and even the marginally poor individuals in all nations are the ones who must listen to the words of God and do what each of us can to help each other. I don't see any 'one nation' that "is the hope of the world".

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Nov 11, 2010 at 6:50 pm

Written by Robin,

Materials possession mean not a thing in God's great kindgom. Why not use our riches to provide a better place for all and to build that kingdom in the here and now for those of us brothers and sisters in greater need. Money is so fleeting and of no importance in the spiritual realm, except for how you steward it while here. As our thoughts turn to the upcoming holiday season, what greater gift could we give to this world than to equalize this divide between the rich and the poor and make it more like what will envitably be.

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