St. James the Elder, Apostle
July 25
by Linda Kraft

Mark 10: 35-45

Can any of you remember your favorite stories from childhood?  Were they
Aesop's Fables, Grimm's Fairy Tales, Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys?  Some of
you had favorite radio shows like "Our Miss Brooks," "Amos and Andy" or the
comedy routines of Laurel and Hardy.  Those continued in popularity with TV,
giving us the Jack Benny Show, George Burns and Gracie Allen, The Real
McCoys, Gunsmoke and Bonanza.
	
I'll bet, if you read, heard or saw one of these favorites today you'd
recognize the characters right away, without a moment's hesitation.  Just
let someone deadpan, "Oh, Rochester..." and you expect to see the faces of
Jack Benny and Eddie Anderson.  If you hear someone mentioning Hoss and
Little Joe you expect to see Dan Blocker and Michael Landon.  Our Miss
Brooks brings up the faces of Eve Arden and Richard Crenna and their
distinctive voices, their lessons in morality, propriety and life in the 40s
and 50's.
	
But, what comes to your mind when you see the heading on the back of
today's bulletin: "St. James the Elder, Apostle"?
	
Well, you have one clue -- you know the fellow must be an apostle of Jesus.
Beyond that, if we hadn't already read the prescribed texts for today, you
might have no idea at all who this early disciple of Jesus was.  Church
history tells us that James was the "other" son of Zebedee, the older of the
brothers James and John, the "Sons of Thunder."  James was a fisherman,
having lived all his life in Galilee.  James is one of the first disciples
called to follow Jesus.  It happened on that calm day when he and his
brother and father were mending their nets near their fishing fleet on Lake
Genesarret, or the Sea of Galilee.
	
Church tradition tells us that James and his brother, John, were present
when Jesus cured Peter's mother-in-law at the home of Peter and Andrew.
And, as we're reminded in today's gospel reading, according to Mark anyway,
James and John were the disciples who asked Christ if they could sit on
either side of him in his glory.  AND they assured Jesus they could drink
the cup that would be presented to their Lord.
	
We often think of John first.  Even though he was younger, he seems to be
the most outspoken of the two.  But, maybe that's because he WAS younger and
hadn't yet learned not to express every thought that popped into his head.
These were the boys who asked Jesus if they should ask heaven to strike the
inhospitable Samaritans with fire.
	
James was with Peter and John at the raising of Jairus' daughter from the
dead, and the three of them were the only apostles at the Transfiguration of
Jesus on that day when Peter thought they should build booths, tents or
temples right there on that spot.
	
James was also in the inner circle of those Jesus asked to stay close to
him when he prayed in agony in Gethsemane.  And, also from today's
lectionary, in our lesson from Acts, we know that James was the first of the
disciples to be martyred, when he was beheaded in Jerusalem by Herod Agrippa
I.  Scholars think this happened pretty early in Church history, about the
year 42 in Christian reckoning.
	
Today, James the Elder is honored as the patron saint of Spain based on an
early legend that he traveled to this land to preach the Good News there
before his death. (1)

Does that refresh your memory? 

Every once in a while we have these special days in the church year to help
us remember that the people who lived in Jesus' time were real people.  They
had brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, careers, amazing experiences
and terrifying experiences and, sadly, sometimes deadly outcomes.  But,
through it all, Jesus walked with them, or his Spirit continued with them to
give their lives more joy, more depth, more courage and more peace.
	
In today's first lesson, the still small voice of God asks, "What are you
doing here, Elijah?"  God wants to know why this servant of God is hiding
out in a cave.  Why was Elijah running away from his responsibility?  Why
wasn't Elijah out there doing what he's promised to do?
	
Elijah responds, "[Of all your prophets] I alone am left and they are
seeking my life to take it away."
	
God doesn't commiserate.  God doesn't say, "Poor Elijah!  Take a few weeks
off and get back to me whenever you're ready to continue with the job you
were called to do."  No, God gets out the "to do" list and begins to rattle
off all the things that Elijah really must come out of the cave to
accomplish.  God doesn't cut Elijah any slack but insists there's work to be
done, and Elijah is the one whose job it is to do it.
	
The writer of the Gospel of Mark tells us that James and his brother told
Jesus they could drink the cup that had been put before him.  Jesus looked
at them lovingly and realized they had no idea what they were saying.  Jesus
knew they would have a hard life living as witnesses to the grace of God.
Jesus knew their co-workers would tire of hearing these two burly men
talking of love and compassion and sharing and giving and trying to live
honorably.
	
Jesus knew James' future, just like he knew Peter's and the futures of the
other disciples; just like he knows ours.  Jesus knew James would die by
being beheaded.  That was the sentence for anti-government protestors in
that land.  And, James was apparently a mighty preacher and worker for the
Lord.  He had come to the attention of the Tetrarch himself, Herod Agrippa
I, who didn't like anyone teaching HIS people that One God was mightier than
their king or that a Son of God wanted them to love one another.  That kind
of teaching was outrageous and unacceptable to this powerful potentate.
	
What about us?  In what ways are we like James?  You and I have been called
to proclaim the good news of God's love in Jesus Christ in everything we do.

Whether we are at work or at the market or at the park,
	at school, at the pool or at the shore,
	at the deli or the nursing home or the barracks,
	at the doctor's office, the library or at home.

You and I are called, like Elijah and James and the other true believes to
live our faith wherever we are and at all times.
	
Our Christianity isn't just reserved to this sanctuary.  If we stay hidden
within this "cave," as Elijah did, no one will hear the good news.  But, if
we live in ways that honor our Lord, others will see our good works and
glorify God in Heaven.  Sometimes it isn't even speaking words that tells
others we have something very special in our lives, a faith that surpasses
understanding.

+	Sometimes all it takes is a little smile at the frustrated parent of a
noisy toddler in a restaurant.
+	Sometimes all it takes is a hug when a coworker has lost a loved one or
has heard a tragic diagnosis.
+	Sometimes all it takes is a request for prayer before your doctor starts
the procedure you know you've put off for too long.
+	Sometimes all it takes is thinking before we speak so that others will
hear support instead of derision.
	
You and I are like James in many ways.  Jesus knew it wouldn't be easy for
James to tell the good news in a world where everything else spoke louder:
war, oppression, prejudice, fear, abuse, injustice, and more.  We're also
like James in that our Lord's Spirit walks with us into whatever
circumstance we find ourselves.  I hope we will not be like James in the way
we die, but even if some terrible way of death should seek us out, we will
still be wrapped in the arms of our loving God, who sent Jesus to live among
us and learn more fully what we need to feel cherished.
	
It may be several years before we're asked to remember St. James the Elder,
Apostle, again.  But, in the meantime, remember the distinctive voice of our
Savior who promises: "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Amen

Reference

 Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney, Doubleday, 1980. Page 380.

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, for all people
according to their needs:

God of hosts, you invite us to stand before you and listen for your
presence.  Through all the noise and shaking of today's world, remind us
always of your Spirit within us.  Send us out to do your will and make us
worthy of serving you.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.  (1Kings
19:9-18)

O Lord our God, this world sometimes seems a fear-filled place.  Stand up as
defender of all who fear violence, prejudice and unjust judgment.  Gather
them around you and let all fear come to an end.  Lord in your mercy, hear
our prayer.  (Psalm 7:1-11)

Protector of all, you have provided us with more than we need.  Help us to
remember to share what we have with those who need it more.  Guide leaders
and workers of relief agencies to be good stewards of all that is donated.
Keep us mindful of the blessings that can be spread abroad by our support.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.  (Acts 11:27 – 12:3a)

Lord, you ask "What is it you want me to do for you?" and we come forward
with our requests.  Help us to ask that your will be done for each of these
children of God:
Are there others we should include in our prayer?
Let us serve you by being your presence in the lives of those who need your
care.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.  (Mark 10:35-45)

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your
mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

(Comments to Linda at Linda_Kraft@Ecunet.org.)
Linda Kraft, Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Trumbull, CT