The Collect for the Fifth Sunday after Easter
O Lord, from Whom all good things do come ; Grant to us Your humble servants, that by Your Holy Inspiration we may think those things that are good, and by Your Merciful Guiding may accomplish those same things ; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Epistle. St James 1:22-27
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
The Holy Gospel of St John 16:23-33
23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Bishop Ian’s Thoughts
Today’s Epistle Reading is taken from St James’ Epistle Chapter 1, Verses 22-27.
It is accepted by the majority of scholars that the Epistle of St James was written by James, the brother of the Lord Jesus. This is the same James who became the leader of the Christian Church in Jerusalem, and played a major role in the Council of Jerusalem.
The Council of Jerusalem considered and formulated the obligations that should be placed upon Gentiles (non Jewish people) who accepted the Holy Gospel, and joined the many newly founded Christian Churches scattered throughout the Roman Empire. The Council is described in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15, Verses 13-20:
“12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16 “‘After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’
18 things known from long ago”
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.”
The Epistle of St James was called a “right strawy epistle” by the great German theologian and reformer Martin Luther.
Luther believed that the emphasis by St James that “works” are essential to salvation contradicted the teaching of St Paul and the Holy Gospel of St John that salvation is by faith alone.
I absolutely agree with Martin Luther that salvation is bestowed, by God, through faith in the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus and nothing else.
It is also my firm belief that good works will inevitably flow forth from a Christian person, as a result of that believer’s faith in, and thankfulness for, God’s Great Gift of the Holy Gospel.
While the Epistle of St James might not clearly establish any new doctrine (teaching) relating to the Holy Gospel it does, however, offer some very valuable lessons on applying the Christian Faith to our everyday lives.
St James’ Epistle was addressed very broadly, as stated in Chapter 1, Verse 1:
“1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.”
At first reading it might be supposed that the Epistle is addressed solely to the twelve tribes of the ancient Jewish nation of Israel. In a manner it was, however, St James saw the Christian believers as being the New Israel of God, and as such his Epistle was intended to be read by Christians, Jews, and Gentiles alike.
St James opens this portion of his Epistle strongly exhorting his readers to not only “merely listen to the word,” but to believe the truth it conveys, and do what it says:
“22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”
St James compares the person who hears the Word of God, and then goes on in their old ways, to a person who looks at their face in a mirror, and then goes on their way and immediately forgets the details of their own face:
In this example, the Word of God is likened to a mirror, which shows a person their true looks.
In a like manner, the Word of God shows us as we really are: men and women born in sin and burdened down by our sinful actions, with no hope of Redemption coming from ourselves.
How many of us have heard sermons in a Church Service that presents, and explains God’s Holy Word in a true, accurate, and faithful manner, and have then gone home and soon forgot the message, and the impact it should have had on our lives.
We must remember that whenever we hear the Word of God read, and expounded correctly, and faithfully, we should amend our lives if they are not in accord with what we have heard.
By doing what the Word of God reveals and requires: when we believe and accept the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are forgiven all our sins. In response we must then live our lives in a manner that is pleasing to God.
St James further exhorts us to “look intently into the perfect Law that gives freedom” and not to forget it, but to continually do it:
“25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
What St James is saying is that once we have received and believed the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus, the rest of our life, in all its facets, and at times its complexities, must be governed by the Truth of the Holy Gospel, and we must show forth this Truth in all we say or do.
St James concludes this portion of his Epistle by giving us some very practical advice regarding on how, we should control what we say and when we speak:
“26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”
Many ill-considered utterances, on our part can cause great harm to another person and destroy our credibility as Ambassadors of the Lord Jesus.
Finally St James gives us very practical advice on what actions God values in our daily lives:
“27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
St James exhorts us to provide for those who are not as well off as we might be, by giving to, and supporting charities that work among the impoverished.
St James also exhorts us to “keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
We must endeavour to live our lives in love, harmony, and service to all men and women, so that the Love of the Lord Jesus and the truth of the Holy Gospel, is clearly seen by all people who we meet or come into contact with during our daily lives.
It is all too easy to become entangled in the vile filth that the world considers normal.
The books, movies, and recreation activities, of our present time, revel in filth, vile innuendo and greedy self-gratification, with complete disregard for good morals, decency, and the welfare of other people.
All too many times we hear of filthy comments, threats and bullying, and even suicide resulting from the evil use of “social media” such as Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of electronic interaction and communication.
As servants of the Lord Jesus we must speak out against these evils, and at all times bear testimony to the Holy Gospel and the Love of God in providing to us Salvation from the coming Day of God's Great Judgement.
Let us give God thanks for the very practical advice of St James, and may we ever be grateful for the blessings of the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. May God also give us Grace to always conduct our lives as those redeemed by the Holy Blood of our Holy Saviour, and through faith, have been clothed in The Lord Jesus’ Holy Righteousness, and adopted by God as his Sons and Daughters. Amen.
Today’s Holy Gospel Reading is taken from the Holy Gospel of St John Chapter 16, Verses 23-33.
St John opens this portion of his Holy Gospel with the Lord Jesus teaching His Disciples about the time of His fast approaching Death and the ramifications that will flow from it.
The Lord Jesus, and His Disciples, had just finished eating what would become known as the Last Supper.
During the meal the Lord Jesus had predicted His Betrayal and Death, and after finishing the supper He began to prepare His Disciples for the troubles that they would experience as His Ambassadors, and Agents, who would proclaim His Holy Gospel to the world.
The Lord Jesus told His Disciples that that would be persecuted, suffer beatings and imprisonment, and even be marked for death on account of their witness to the Holy Gospel. This revelation by the Lord Jesus is recorded in the Holy Gospel of St John in Chapter 16, Verses 1-3:
“1 All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.”
After revealing to His Disciples what must soon come to pass, the Lord Jesus begins to teach them that they will not be utterly confounded by His Death.
The Lord Jesus reveals to His Disciples that there is coming a wondrous day (the Day of Pentecost), then only a matter of weeks away, when all that they have been taught will be made clear to them (by their reception of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost):
“23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
The Lord Jesus then told His Disciples that what He had taught them, in days gone by, figuratively and in parables (an earthly story which reveals a Heavenly Truth), he now declares plainly to them.
In days gone by, the Disciples had asked the Lord Jesus questions about God, but in a very short time the Disciples would have access directly to their Heavenly Father, having received the Gift of the Holy Spirit, given through faith in the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus.
The Lord Jesus had came from God, and would soon return to God. He would then send them the Holy Spirit (The Comforter):
“25 Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
The Disciples had begun to understand that the Lord Jesus was God in Human Flesh and that He had come into the world to secure Salvation for God’s Chosen people though the Holy Gospel of His Death and Resurrection.
The Disciples declare their faith and understanding in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus, and further declare that no one need ask the Lord Jesus any question as they understand His Holy Mission:
“29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
The Lord Jesus, in answer to His Disciples declaration of their Faith and Understanding, gives them a gentle, yet solemn rebuke, telling them that within a few days they will be
scattered and will hide in fear leaving the Lord Jesus without earthly support and companionship.
The Lord Jesus will not be alone, for God, His Heavenly Father is with Him:
“31 Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.”
The Lord Jesus concludes his teaching by telling His Disciples that He has revealed this teaching to them so that they might have peace. This Peace is not the peace of the world, which can disappear at an instant, but the Holy Peace of God that endures forever and which nothing can disrupt or overcome.
The Lord Jesus declares that in this world His Disciples, and all faithful Christians from every age of history, will experience trouble and turmoil but they must take courage knowing that the Lord Jesus has overcome Satan and his world:
“33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Let us give thanks to God for the Great Victory won for us in the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us also thank Him for the Heavenly Peace that He bestows on each and every Christian, as we wait and watch for the Lord Jesus’ Second Coming, at which time we will be united forever with the Lord Jesus, in His Eternal Kingdom Amen.
Bishop Ian