James 3:13-4:4, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37
17th Sunday after Trinity
St Barbara’s 22.09.2024
Rev Tulo Raistrick
You may have noticed as you came to church today that our cross-roads has changed. After over a week of drilling, digging, tarmac-ing, and line painting, things are all a bit different. Now the main road is Rochester Road. Beechwood Avenue is the secondary road, having to stop and give way. Maybe in this week when Coventry has celebrated the 50th anniversary of the ring road, the town planners wanted to create some new motoring interest to spice up our lives.
The nature of the new crossroads mean that we now have to make different choices, look in different directions, give way to cars from different places.
So maybe its not entirely unhelpful that our reading from the letter of James this week, a letter we have been reading throughout this month of September, is about making choices about what direction we go in. James is clear: we can’t head in two opposite directions at the same time, there are some choices to be made. At the baptism service this afternoon the baptism promises will make clear that we need to turn away from some things – evil, sin – and turn to others, in particular, to Christ. We will act this out literally, turning from the direction of the setting sun and turning to the direction of the rising sun. We turn from darkness to light.
James puts it like this. There are two kinds of wisdom, two ways of making decisions about life. One way of making decisions is based on putting the self-first, the “what’s best for me” approach. If it benefits me, I’ll do it. If there are consequences for others because of my actions, well that is secondary. The problem with such an approach to decisions, James says, is that it ends up being driven by all sorts of negative influences: envy of others – “I want what others have got” – and by selfish ambition – “I want to have more… more money, more things, more friends, more power, than other people”. Those desires can never get satisfied, and in our pursuit of them they cause huge amounts of strife and pain to ourselves and to others.
None of us are immune from following that direction. We all find ourselves being pulled that way, continuing along Beechwood Avenue, as it were, as if the “Give Way” priorities had never been changed. Just look at the disciples, quarrelling and fighting about who would be the greatest, who would have the position of greatest influence alongside Jesus. They had totally missed the point. But we can too, can’t we?
The other way of making decisions is based on what the Bible calls “humility”, not forcing one’s own rights and demands on others, not seeking one’s own interests above everyone else’s, but instead valuing and putting others before oneself. Jesus put it like this: “If anyone wants to be first, they must put themselves last and be the servant of all.”
James spells out for us what that looks like. It means living a life of compassion, caring for those in need. It means living a life that works for peace, that works at bringing healing and reconciliation to situations, not division and animosity. It means living a life of gentleness, that is considerate and willing to forgive others. A life that is sincere. A life where people can trust that what we say is what we do. That does not discriminate or judge others, but instead treats all with love and respect. A life that speaks well of others, that is quick to praise and encourage, and does not look to put others down.
I wonder, who would you rather have for a friend, for a colleague at work, for a neighbour? The one who makes decisions based on self or the one who makes decisions based on humility, who shows all those positive and life-giving qualities? The answer is obvious, isn’ it. And if we want that to be the case for others, then surely we would want that to be the case for ourselves too?
But choosing the direction of humility, of life, is not easy! Human willpower is an extraordinary thing, but in and of itself it is not enough to help us choose God’s direction rather than our own. We need God’s help. The good news is that though we have made promises to God, whether through baptism, whether through confirmation as Felicity, Daniel and Greg will be doing next week, whether through our daily act of commitment and prayer, God has made some even more amazing promises to us, and James here lists a couple of those.
Firstly, God promises: “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” In other words, people who choose the direction of humility, of working for peace and the good of others, will have incredibly fruitful lives. They may not necessarily get to the top of their careers, they may not necessarily want or be able to afford all the latest technologies or holidays, but they will make a difference in the lives of those around them. Other people will thrive, will find themselves affirmed, valued, respected, encouraged, because of the life of such people. Situations of conflict will be resolved, situations of need will be addressed, because of the choices of such people.
Over the years I’ve taken close on 150 funerals. Each one has been an extraordinary privilege, as I have sat down and listened to people’s loved ones tell their story and share about the one they have lost. I’ve never had anyone tell me, “They had a good life… they made loads of money, even if it was at other people’s expense” or “They were great… they just focussed on themselves, and ignored everyone else.” The stories that people want to share, the memories that matter, the things that made a difference for them, are those that speak of the person’s generosity, their kindness, their humour, their love of others. When we measure life, when we test it and see what matters, when we think about what we want to hold on to about a person’s life, these are the things that count. What, I wonder, will people say about us, what will they remember? God promises that those who live lives of love and humility will see an abundant harvest of such fruit.
James also writes: “Come near to God and God will come near to you.” The well-known story that Jesus told of the prodigal son speaks so powerfully here. The son demanded all his inheritance from his father, went away, squandered it all, and ended up destitute and starving. At rock bottom he decided to turn home. Maybe his father would let him become a labourer on the farm. Little did he know his father had been waiting, looking out for him everyday since he had left home. The moment he saw him on the horizon, he dropped everything, and ran to meet him, and flung his arms around him. That, Jesus says, is how God is with us. He will not force himself upon us, but once we turn round, once we turn in his direction, he will come to us.
The key is not how far along the journey we are – whether we are like baby Isabelle getting baptised this afternoon or whether we have been a Christian for 70-80 years. The key question is which direction are we heading. If we are heading towards God, seeking his help, his friendship, then wherever we are, he will meet us. “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
For all of us today, let us pause, take stock, and ask which direction are we heading in. We will come to many crossroads, many points where choices need to be made today and throughout this week. Let us choose the way of God.
