The letter of James cautions us to be doers of the word, not merely hearers. It counsels us that talk is cheap and that to be truly religious is to act. It states clearly and concretely that pure, undefiled religion is to care for orphans and widows, in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Saying prayers is good. Going to church is important. But acting faithfully is the essential ingredient that gives meaning and purpose to pious words.

Jesus also speaks with clarity and direction. "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink." God provides. We do not need to strive to gather more and more things for ourselves. We need instead to grow in our hunger for righteousness - for right relationship with God and our neighbor. Right relationships are the source of love, purpose and meaning in this life, and the next.

But James and Jesus are not the only voices in our life. We are bombarded by other messages. The world tells us to look out for ourselves first. It makes the poor our enemy and heaps rewards on those who already have more than they need. The world teaches us that the more we consume the better we are, and that money and power will save us.

These are lies that lead to the shriveling of the soul, the impoverishment of our neighbor and indifference to both the grace and the sovereignty of God.

We know the difference. It shows up in our actions. We have made a good beginning.

Saint James is like a train station during this time of year. It is a transfer point in a web of generosity. One route in this system stretches from a Day Care center north of here to a family living in Aberdeen. The Men's Organization of Saint James' Church gathered last night for bible study and to cook many trays of fruit cobbler. Bags of food donated at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings had been gathered into my office These trays and bags are now on their way to a public Thanksgiving Feast that is held each year near North Avenue in Baltimore City.

Conversation with students and parents, parishioners and Academy families have brought resources and needs of all kinds together in this place.

Over a hundred Christmas giftsd came into Saint James last week from the homes of our students. They were stacked on the stage like multi-colored boxcars waiting to be assembled into various trains. Half will be routed to ships and planes and sent overseas. The other half will be loaded in a van and taken to homeless children at the Ark downtown.

The Grand Parents' Day offering collected today, gathers briefly in our office and then is shunted to the Hereford Food Bank. Our coins and paper become food, and those with little receive a meal and a measure of hope.

In a few more days hundreds of toys will show up at the altar in our weekly Chapel. A program that once provided the children in a couple of families with Christmas gifts now serves 250 families. The willingness to give that is alive in this place will make households all across metropolitan Baltimore happier on Christmas morning than they would otherwise have been.

It seems to me that there is an upswing in generosity this year. That is good because there is no shortage of people in need. It is good because we are stewards of the wealth that has been entrusted to us and the sign of our good stewardship is in the care we take of others.

Many things have happened in the last year or so - towers have tumbled, and markets have fallen. There have been wars and rumors of war. There are a thousand things about which we could worry or become anxious. But this is not necessary, or advisable. Do not be distracted, we have better things to do.

There are ads that want to hurry Christmas in before Thanksgiving is even over. The world would just as soon throw Advent out the window. Resist. Let yourself be still. Allow yourself some quiet. Consider the lillies of the field, the birds of the air, the wonder of creation and all the gifts of this life. Forget the advertising circulars. Drop your checkbook. Pick up the scripture, Sit still, and seek God.

We have thousands of things for which we should be thankful. Let us count our blessings this Thanksgiving, and consider how to be more of a blessing for others.

There is but one thing we need to do, one focus for our energy and attention.
Seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. God knows what we need.
Let us devote our energy to the needs of others.
The train is in the station. All aboard!