Saturday, November 22, 2014
James 5:13-20
I sense some tension — not necessarily a bad thing — between the first half of this chapter and the second half. Early on in chapter 5 we’re told to be strong and have patience through hardships. Then in the second part we read about not hesitating in seeking out prayer for our ailments.
A lot of people are troubled when prayer doesn’t seem to ‘work.’ Are we praying incorrectly? Are we somehow ‘blocking’ it? Does God not desire us to be well? These are big questions that a lot of people have, and they can result in disappointment and even the loss of faith. Looking at our reading in isolation it would seem that James is siding with those who see prayer as a cure for our suffering. But if we balance today’s passage with his counsel on patience and endurance, we might find some much needed balance. Our faith might be enlivened by tales of miraculous healing. But we might also find inspiration in the example of someone like Pope John Paul II, who continued on in his ministry in spite of the physical challenges he faced toward the end of his life. To me it is always important to hold together the tension we see in the life of our Lord: Jesus healed, yes, but he also gave up his life, and told his followers that they would have to carry their own cross, too.
Some people I’ve spoken with, both Biblical scholars and health care workers, reconcile this tension by reminding us that health, healing, and wholeness are not necessarily the same things as cure. Most often we want a quick and easy cure, but maybe God wants a greater wholeness for us. A cure from an illness does not necessarily include such aspects of wholeness such as reconciliation with family members, spiritual maturity, a sense of peace, and concern for others. In writing about confession and prayer, James is laying the foundation for a community that cares for its members, both in times of quick cures and overall wholeness, in times of sickness and in times of health.
- Matthew Kieswetter
No comments:
Post a Comment