St James Catholic Church

As summer transitions to fall, farmers' thoughts turn toward the coming harvest. Speaking of harvesting, in the second reading St. James declares that those who cultivate peace will sow the fruit of righteousness. Besides the traditional fall harvest of apples, corn, and pumpkins, may we also savor the fruit of righteousness, that is, of moral goodness and justice, which in turn brings peace to our world, our nation, and our communities.

St. James warns his readers that when we ask wrongly, we do not receive. Obviously, this is the case when we ask God for things selfishly or greedily. But it is also true if we constantly ask for more in every context. Often we receive it (a free upgrade) but it’s never enough, for before we know it we’re asking for still more. We are never satisfied. Meanwhile, we obsess over what we still don’t have. We can never get it all. Getting it all is a fool’s ambition. Even surrounded by all that we have, we will not possess eternal happiness. We have asked wrongly.

Not even the disciples can avoid the temptation to ask wrongly. They argue among themselves as to which of them is the greatest. This after hearing Jesus tell them again that he would be put to death and rise in three days. Jesus, the teacher, teaches them a lesson by embracing a child, one who is powerless, who is last of all, and telling them that their ambition was directed in the wrong direction. Receiving a child like this in Jesus’ name receives God. Isn’t that better than all the material things, or all the status, or all the power one can receive?

Love, Peace, Joy,

Fr. Bob