7 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. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (James 5: 7-10 NRSV)
"It's either feast or famine!" We all have heard that said by farmers that we all know and love. A farmer plants with faith and trust, prays for rain, and then patiently waits to see what sort of crop they will receive. The waiting is the hardest part. Dear Friend, as James wrote this epistle, he was addressing believers who were anxious about when Jesus would return for them. James believes with all his heart that the Lord was near, as we do even today some two thousand years later. His calm suggestion is for the reader to be calm and patient. And yet, he writes, "Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near." Advent is about waiting and trusting. We await the time to draw close to once again celebrate the birth of our Lord. As years go by it seems churches no longer put on plays or special music on the actual holy days like the 24th or 25th, but do the celebrating on earlier days, so that family plans can be carried forth. And even in those days when celebrations of Christ's birth were low-key, there was a tendency for conflict among other believers, even family, were possible and were happening, so James writes, "Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged." The pressures and stresses of the holidays at time cause us to not be ourselves and defeats the entire purpose of why we celebrate.
Patience and peace as we await the birth of He born to be the Prince of Peace. What a concept!
Show peace, and show love. People may wonder what you're up to!
PRAYER: King of Kings, and Lord of Life, and our Prince of Peace; show us how and share it with us. May You be glorified in all this, for we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show just an ounce more of patience than yesterday and soon your cup will overflow!
Blessings of peace and love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
