Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble, brethren, against one another, that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the doors. --James 5:7-9

While this weeks readings also contain the visions of future utopias, I was struck even more by the exhortations towards our behavior now. In fact, it was the puzzle of how the gospel reading fits in with the others that led me to focus on behavior rather than on what's to come.

John is in prison and sends his followers out to find out if Christ was the one John had been foretelling. After answering them with what I think is an answer John would appreciate, Christ turns on the crowds and berates them. I picture some in the crowd being taken aback by his answer to John's followers and Christ turning to them and saying "What did you think was going on here?"

But what has that to do with the rest of the readings? Christ was asking the crowd about their behavior and their attitude. He challenges the thrill seeker, the sideshow gawker. He challenges the one who is following the crowd but who doesn't really believe. Even though the crowds were hearing the right speakers, Christ questions their motives for being there. Christ examines thier behavior while waiting for the messiah.

James also addresses behavior while waiting for the messiah, waiting for the second time. Christ has come once. Ok. We get the fact that our ideas about the first messiah were a bit off; that's fine. But what do we do now? Be patient. Do not grumble.

Be patient. Do not grumble. Specifically, do not grumble against one another. Even more pointedly, do not grumble or you will be judged--oh and by the way I'm standing at the door; I can hear you.

Be patient. Do not grumble. Wait like the farmer waiting for harvest.

Be patient.

¶ 8:21 AM