Scripture teaches, and reminds us periodically, that God hears our prayers. So, prayer is an important part of our faith journeys. Whether we are awed by the beauty of nature or in need of assistance because of distress or full of praise and thanksgiving, James says prayer is the appropriate response. Prayer is powerful; its power resides in its ability to change us. We are sometimes mistaken in our thinking that prayer will lead God to change God’s mind or actions. Maybe if we just pray enough or say the right words. But prayer changes us, not God. Prayer aligns us with God and God’s work unfolding all around us.

James said that the wisdom of the world is self-absorbed and destructive; it is full of envy and boasting. The wisdom of the world is problematic because it causes conflict and so it sets us up against one another. But the wisdom from above sets us on a different path. This wisdom from God is: pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. In Jesus, wisdom from above meets wisdom from below so that everyone can see which is which and we can hear the God’s invitation for us to say yes to God and let wisdom be born from our gentleness.

In the third week, James teaches us that words have significant power. Words have the power to just tear things up, power to tear people up, like a small fire setting a forest ablaze. But we mustn’t forget that words also have the power to bless. We must decide how we will use them.

God honors the poor first. We see it time and again in the stories about Jesus - the stories about with whom he eats, with whom he associates, and who he heals. It is easy to say we follow him even as we know these stories and that God honors the poor first. But sometimes it is difficult for us to put the words we say in action. Often, our words and works of faith don’t align because we engage in favoritism, greed, and status-seeking. These struggles grow out of our desire to be safe and know security; it is fear that drives them. But when our words and works align with one another, then we are finding a faith that works. It works because as we recognize and support the humanity of others, we discover our own humanity. Faith without works is indeed dead, but faith with works thrives.

Every gift comes from God. Understanding this fundamental orientation helps us grasp and join in with God’s work in the world around us. God’s first gift is love and our response should be to love, especially the most vulnerable around us. When we practice self-assessment by looking at ourselves in a mirror, then we can see where we are and where we are going. If that needs to be adjusted, we can make the changes necessary, even if they are difficult to execute. But, aligning ourselves with what God is doing leads to a life of abundant meaning, hope, and love.