Advent Week 3

There is a hymn in our St. Augustine Hymnal entitled, Patience, People. The refrain goes like this: Patience, people, till the Lord is come. The conclusion to each of the three (3) verses is this: Patience, people, for the Lord is coming. Both reflect the essence of our Advent season. It speaks of the reality that Jesus has already come. But it also reminds us that Jesus is coming again. Framed within an overall theme of patient perseverance during trails and temptations, James writes to encourage believers to live consistently with what they have learned in Christ. He wants his readers to mature in their faith in Christ by living what they say they believe. He encourages believers to humbly live by godly rather than wordly wisdom and to pray in all situations. The Protestant theologian, John Calvin, and others, suggested that the author was the Apostle, James, son of Alphaeus, who is referred to as James the Less. The Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, denied it was the word of an apostle and termed it an “epistle of straw.” What does this mean? Frustrated by religious leaders who claimed this book supported their mistaken ideas that people could buy their salvation through monetary gifts to the church, Luther uttered his ill-advised phrase. Consumed in the debate, he went beyond a proper understanding of the Scriptures and dismissed James’ statements that works are a necessary evidence of faith. He had issues with the Letter of James compared to some other books in the New Testament, partly because of the conflict he thought it raised with Paul on the doctrine of justification. Often penitents who come ot the sacrament of Penance confess that their patience needs improving. Sometimes it is with their spouse, their children and even co-workers. What is patience? It includes the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like. Patience is an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay. Finally, on a more positive note, patience is a quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence. It appears that to improve one’s patience one must be ready and willing to suffer! Re-read that portion of the Letter of James we heard from this week’s readings. But read it SLOWLY. Take in each word or phrase and make it a part of YOU. Re-read it a second and then a third time, again SLOWLY. What do you discover about your patience? Are you living what you say you believe? Be patient. Pray that it comes.
-Msgr. Mike