Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Ambon Prayer 69

The Holy Apostle James, the Brother of God

Title

Whom Do You See?

Outline

In a famous case a law a policemen did not see his colleagues roughing up a suspect, for he was focused on a criminal making a getaway

His focus meant that he literally did not see the three men he ran right by

On the other hand, some people see and defer to those in authority, which means a change in belief requires a change in those to whom they look

In our Acts reading Paul makes such a change

He had previously “seen” only his reference group of Pharisees and their interpretation of the “traditions of our fathers.”

After his encounter with Jesus, he no longer viewed life that way, but also did not immediately establish himself with a new group of authorities, “those who were apostles before me.” Instead he spent three years evangelizing in the area around Damascus (“Arabia”) and only then went to Jerusalem to see James, who was the closest to Jesus as one could get.

He had no interest in the Pharisees any more.

Jesus’ parable makes it clear that who one sees is critical

The rich man remains unnamed, certainly not to men, but to God. In a sense, God does not see him for he has not seen God.

Lazarus is seen by God, but not by men. The rich man does not see him in life and even after death addresses “Father Abraham” and ignores Lazarus.

In life only the dogs see Lazarus and only they show care for him. Yet as Jesus says elsewhere, not to see the poor and the sick and the immigrant is not to see Jesus, as the rich man will discover.

In death, however, the angels carry Lazarus to Abraham’s bosom - they had been watching - while his body may just have been tossed onto unused land, but the rich man is seen and buried, ending up alone in Hades. Abraham does not seem to notice him until he notices Abraham.

The formerly rich man thinks Lazarus will be useful either to ease his own pain or to take a message to his brothers. Abraham says that because the rich man had taken his ease, not seeing Lazarus, so Lazarus now is to take his ease and does not appear to see the rich man. Likewise, if the brothers do not see Moses and the Prophets - see and obey - they will not see Lazarus risen from the dead.

So, brothers and sisters, let us ask God to open our eyes

We need to see Jesus, see him in Moses and the Prophets, see him reigning over us as risen from the dead, see him in his apostles, and see him in the poor, the sick, the prisoner, and the immigrant. This is one place where good eyesight is critical.

Of course, good eyesight is the gateway to effective action. James makes it clear that to see and understand and not to act according to Jesus will not save anyone. To use a different metaphor, our motto should be “To hear is to obey.” That is a major message of the letter of James.

And while we like Paul may rush off to obey Jesus immediately, there is also the time to consult with his representatives and to let them guide and shape our action as well as our understanding.

What do you see? What are you doing about what you see?

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 10-23-2022: James (Iakovos) the Apostle, Brother of Our Lord

EPISTLE

Galatians 1:11–19

11  Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13  For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to destroy it; 14  and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15  But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus.

18  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 10-30-2022: Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

GOSPEL

Option A

(22nd Sunday, Greek)

Luke 16:19–31

19 “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20  And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22  The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25  But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29  But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30  And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.’ ”

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 10-23-2022: James (Iakovos) the Apostle, Brother of Our Lord

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2022 | FIXED FEASTS

JAMES (IAKOVOS) THE APOSTLE, BROTHER OF OUR LORD

Dark Vestments

On the same date: Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle Galatians 1:11–19