Maundy Thursday
March 29, 2018
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. –I Corinthians 15:3-8
I do not know anything of about James, the brother of Jesus, except the few mentions by Paul. I, however, have my own fictional rendering of him. My guess is he was the brother just younger than Jesus. When Jesus set out to be an itinerant preacher, James was left to meet the needs of the family, a role that would normally have gone to the eldest son. We here no more about Joseph, James’ father after the temple trip when Jesus was 12. Joseph probably died leaving Mary to lean on James since Jesus was otherwise occupied. After the resurrection, James became the leader of the church in Jerusalem. His early family responsibilities had most likely made him a good leader. We do not know what James thought or felt being left to deal with the common needs of his family. We do not know if he followed Jesus’ teachings before his death and resurrection. A lot of people would have resented this older brother whom his mother adored. He played a tough, tough role.
I thus have wondered about the conversation Paul reports Jesus and James had following Jesus resurrection. Were fences mended? Did James experience a new enlightenment? The meeting was consequential, or Paul would not have written about it.
What difference do Jesus’ death and resurrection make in our lives? Did everything change for us some 2000 years ago or was it just another point of interest on the timeline of history? I am writing this after hearing a young man speak about the senseless death of his twin brother shot down on his way home from a college preparatory class. The surviving twin’s life, of course, was changed forever but that is not enough for him. He was speaking at a campaign to curb gun violence so that no one else’s brother would have to go through what he and his brother did.
Time can fade memory perhaps even lessen the pain of loss, but time should never decrease our resolve to carry out Jesus’ mission in our lives today. My guess is that was part of James and Jesus’ discussion after his resurrection. My guess is that is why James used the leadership skills he had honed growing up in a single parent home to make his brother’s vision a reality. We are called to do the same.
Prayer: Lord, help us to be our brothers and our sisters’ keepers as we work for justice and a world ruled by love. Amen.