James 1:2-18
Whenever you face
trials of any kind, consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, because
you know that the inner strength of patience grows in you through the testing
of your faith. But this patient perseverance must lead to fulfillment so that
you may become mature and whole human beings, not held back in any respect. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask it of God, who gives generously to all
without reservation and without reproaches, and what he asks for will be given
to him. Only he must ask out of a believing heart, not with a doubting soul. A doubter is like a wave of the sea, moved and
thrown hither and thither by the wind. Such a man should not think that he is
able to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is divided and unstable
in all his ways.
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| Arild Rosenkrantz |
A brother or sister
who considers himself among the lowly may pride himself on his greatness; whoever
is rich may be proud of his lowliness. since he will perish like a flower in
the grass. When the sun rises with scorching heat, it makes green grass wither
and the flower drops off. The beauty in which it appeared to us perishes. So
also human wealth will fade away along Man’s paths.
Blessed is the one
who perseveres under trial and withstands the temptation, because, having stood
the test, that person will receive the wreath of life that the Lord has
promised to those who love him.
When tempted, no
one should say, “I am being led into temptation by God.” For God cannot be
tempted by evil, nor does he lead anyone into temptation; Every temptation
that a human being experiences arises out of his own cravings and desires,
which lure and entice him. When human desire once has conceived, then it
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Do not be
deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every truly good and perfect gift descends
to us out of the higher world from the Father of the heavenly lights, in whom
there is no alternation and no phases of light and darkness. Out of his
cosmic will, he called us to life through the truth-bearing Word. We were to be
the first fruits among his creatures.
Holy Nights
James 1: 2-18
When a wheel is in motion, any given point on the rim is for
a while above, and for a while below, bearing the full weight. And then it is
above again. Progress, motion forward creates this dynamic.
The world of time is created in the progress of the great
wheel of the circling seasons. Our own lives are an example of the motion of
the greater wheel of life. For a while we are lifted up. Then we descend to
bearing a heavy load. This is a prelude to our rising again.
James in his letter reminds us that our progress in life,
with its ups and downs, depends on our patient endurance and our perseverance.
This perseverance is a result our wholehearted, undoubting trust in God’s
beneficent purpose. Eventually our load-bearing progress will lead us to our
goal. We will be mature and whole human beings. We will take our place dancing in
the heavens with the Father of Lights.
The poet T.S. Elliot expressed this thought:
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| Angel of Hope, Iris Sullivan |
I said to my soul, be still, and
wait without hope
For hope would be hope for the
wrong thing; wait without love
For love would be love of the wrong
thing; there is yet faith
But the faith and the love and the
hope are all in the waiting.
…..
So the darkness shall be the light,
and the stillness the dancing[1].
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