Wisdom: James

Throughout the season of Lent we’ll be in the book of James – a controversial collection of wisdom sayings from James, the brother of Jesus. The opening line of James tells us a lot of the direction of the book: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes of the Dispersion.” (James 1:1) What if this line was written to us, last week? It might sound a bit like this: “To the people of God who are not at home in this world, but find little hope in some otherworldly heaven. To folks who are displaced, disconnected and depressed. To the abused, accused and afraid. To the diaspora of the Kingdom of God. To the homeless, the exiled, the misfits. Do you find yourself alienated from a religion that legitimates oppression? Are you sick and tired of Bible reading that is tame and domesticated? Have you had it with a piety divorced from justice? Do you confess Jesus to be your Lord, and refuse to bow the knee to any other? Then I am writing to you. And I bring you warm and joyful greetings.”