This blog provides a meditation on the Episcopal daily readings along with a headline from world news:
MISURATA REFUGEES RETURN VOLUNTARILY TO DANGEROUS CITY
James 1:1-15
2 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 6But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; 7, 8for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
9 Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, 10and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. 11For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.
12 Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. 14But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.
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tempted by your own desires

The tone of the letter of James, which perhaps comes from the hand or at least from the “school” of “James the Lord’s brother”, who was one of the leaders of the Jerusalem church, is of an unrelenting realism similar to that of Jesus himself. Here there is no room for the airs and graces of religious life. Don’t whinge of you’re facing trials-these help you to grow up. If you need something, pray for it- but if your needs come from doubts, don’t expect to get anything. If you’re poor-be happy that the community lifts you up. If you’re rich-be happy that the community brings you down to earth. If you show endurance-you’ll be rewarded. But don’t imagine God’s testing you-you’re only tested by your own evil desires.
These bracing truths are helpful for me at least, this Monday morning. They meet me where I am.
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Luke 9:18-27

18 Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ 19They answered, ‘John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ 20He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘The Messiah of God.’
21 He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, 22saying, ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’
23 Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. 25What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? 26Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.’
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My father used to say that the nation responded best to Churchill during the Second World War when he promised it “blood, sweat and tears”, because he was telling the truth. Jesus’ advert for disciples is like that: first he tells them that in spite of being “Messiah” (superman) he’s going to be rejected by the religious authorities and killed-oh yes, and raised on the third day, whatever that was supposed to mean. Then he asks his followers to pick up their death sentences (crosses) and follow him. Protecting their own lives will lead to loss of true life; while risking their lives will gain them true life. Those who find Jesus too low-class and give him the body swerve in this world, will find that the victorious Jesus gives them the body swerve in the new world. He’s not exactly promoting the brand.

not exactly dsicipleship

The cross was known as the most painful and degrading of Roman punishments, reserved for slaves and barbarians. No-one should imagine that Jesus’ command can be fulfilled by wearing a cross on a chain or sticking a fish in the rear window of the car.
If a religion which uses often the language of self-sacrifice is rarely found where the suffering is happening, and even to its shame, is found to be the cause of suffering, it should not complain if increasing numbers of people think its beliefs are fairy tales.

(Note for non-Glaswegians. The “body-swerve” is what Lionel Messi demonstrated so well in the European Champions Cup Final on Saturday, going past opponents as if they were not there. This skill is transferred to the social sphere by Glaswegians and applied to ways of evading awkward personal encounters.)