Thoughts for the Day

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

I dug over the small patch of garden, took out stones, added fresh top soil, hoed it, created a shallow trench, added seeds, and sticks with coloured tinsel on them. I lived in hope that I could grow peas, if I could keep the blackbird away! Over the weeks I kept the bed free of weeds, particularly bind-weed. As the plants sprouted I filled in some bare patches with extra seeds. Then came the wait until they grew and the flowers appeared, with a longer wait for the pods to produce fair-sized peas. They were delicious, and I put some of my treasured peas in the freezer for our Christmas dinner - although I think the family really preferred the bought variety!

The reading today comes from the Epistle of James, written by a Christian Jew, possibly at the turn of the 1st century (and so not the disciple James, or James the half-brother of Jesus, both of whom who were martyred before 62 CE). He writes to those Christians impatient for the return of Jesus, instructing them to be patient and to wait in hope.

Our lives are also to be like growing my peas - we must wait with patience, care for our soil (ie nurture our own faith), add sticks (ie encourage and teach others), add more seeds and help remove weeds (ie work to keep the Church strong and faithful), and hold a real hope for the future (for the completion of God's Kingdom), which in our case will come in God's time!

Lord Jesus Christ,
as Your servant James
sought to teach the Christians
of his time about You,
so we give You thanks for all who
seek to teach us about our faith.
May we have a thirst for knowledge
and a desire to get closer to You.
May we also constantly
tend our faith and live in hope
for the completion of Your Kingdom.
Amen.