This sermon, based on James 3:13 – 4:3, 7-8a, was preached by Rev. Marissa Galván-Valle on September 22, 2024 (Proper 20). It is part of a sermon series on the book of James called: “Reflecting Christ in Times of Challenge.”
Crocodile’s Crossing
Some time ago, I read a children's book titled Crocodile's Crossing: A Search for Home, written by Yoeri Slegers. The story follows Crocodile, who is compelled to leave his homeland because it is no longer safe. Food is scarce, and conditions continue to deteriorate. Consequently, Crocodile packs his bags and sets off, thinking, "Everything will be better where I'm going!" However, he has no idea where he is headed.
As he travels from one place to another, he finds no welcoming faces. People gaze at him and say, "You’re so big! So green! Those enormous teeth look so dangerous. Nobody wants a crocodile here. Go away!" Remarkably, and quite by chance, Crocodile finds a home. He falls asleep, and when he wakes, he is surrounded by mice who are kind to him and offer him food and shelter. He learns to coexist with them and feels so safe that he can finally bring what he missed the most: his family.
Gifts of New Immigrants
If you look at the Presbyterian calendar today, you will find that today is "Gifts of New Immigrants Sunday." On this day, congregations are encouraged to celebrate the richness that immigrant communities contribute to the life and ministry of the Presbyterian Church. Immigrants bring unique cultural, theological, and spiritual gifts that significantly enrich this church, among others, in several vital ways:
Diversity of Worship and Practice: Immigrants often bring diverse liturgical traditions, music, and styles of worship, which help broaden the experience of faith.
New Perspectives on Faith and Theology: Immigrant communities often bring fresh insights into biblical interpretation and theology that are shaped by their cultural, historical, and social experiences. These perspectives challenge the church to reconsider how it understands justice, hospitality, and mission.
Commitment to Justice and Hospitality: Immigrant members often have firsthand experience with issues such as displacement, migration, and marginalization, making them particularly attuned to advocating for justice and extending hospitality.
Global Connection: Immigrants strengthen the connection to the global church. Many immigrant members maintain strong ties to their home countries and bring with them the experiences and concerns of the global church.
As Crocodile's story illustrates, being an immigrant in the United States can be challenging, whether one has been living here for a long time or has only recently arrived. The difficulties may improve over time, but they do not necessarily disappear.
In 2023, the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on national health issues, conducted the "2023 KFF/LA Times Survey of Immigrants," a comprehensive study on the experiences of immigrants in the U.S. This survey addressed various aspects such as employment, discrimination, economic struggles, and access to healthcare. The key takeaways from the survey are as follows:
Most immigrants – regardless of where they came from or how long they’ve been in the U.S. – say they came to the U.S. for more opportunities for themselves and their children.
Overall, a majority of immigrants say their financial situation (78%), educational opportunities (79%), employment situation (75%), and safety (65%) are better as a result of moving to the U.S.
Despite an improved situation relative to their countries of birth, many immigrants report facing serious challenges, including high levels of workplace and other discrimination, difficulties making ends meet, and confusion and fears related to U.S. immigration laws and policies.
Most immigrants are employed, and about half of all working immigrants say they have experienced discrimination in the workplace, such as being given less pay or fewer opportunities for advancement than people born in the U.S., not being paid for all their hours worked, or being threatened or harassed.
About a third (34%) of immigrants say they have been criticized or insulted for speaking a language other than English since moving to the U.S., and a similar share (33%) say they have been told they should “go back to where you came from.”
Immigrants who are Black or Hispanic report disproportionate levels of discrimination at work, in their communities, and in health care settings.
Even with high levels of employment, one third of immigrants report problems affording basic needs like food, housing, and health care.
Among likely undocumented immigrants, seven in ten say they worry they or a family member may be detained or deported, and four in ten say they have avoided things such as talking to the police, applying for a job, or traveling because they didn’t want to draw attention to their or a family member’s immigration status. However, these concerns are not limited to those who are likely undocumented. Among all immigrants regardless of their own immigration status, nearly half (45%) say they don’t have enough information to understand how U.S. immigration laws affect them and their families, and one in four (26%) say they worry they or a family member could be detained or deported.
About half of all immigrants have limited English proficiency, and about half among this group say they have faced language barriers in a variety of settings and interactions.
So, as Lin Manuel Miranda wrote… “Immigrants, we get the job done”, but in a mixtape based on this lyric, songwriters Claudia Alexandra Feliciano / Jeffrey Penalva / Keinan Abdi Warsame / Lin-Manuel Miranda / René Pérez Joglar / Rizwan Ahmed write a more nuanced version:
You claim I'm stealing jobs though
Peter Piper claimed he picked them, he just underpaid Pablo
But there ain't a paper trail when you living in the shadows
We're America's ghost writers, the credit's only borrowed
It's a matter of time before the checks all come
But, Immigrants, we get the job done.
Wisdom from Below and Wisdom from Above
In the sermon last Sunday, the Reverend Dr. Marielis Barreto reminded us of the turmoil in James' church. "Apparently, some individuals teaching the word were also offending others, using their speech in harmful and dangerous ways." However, the passage we read did not explicitly address how to tame the tongue.
Today's scripture seems to offer a method for taming the tongue. Kelsie Rodenbiker of the University of Glasgow states, "If the tongue, with its potential for inconsistency, contravenes the laws of nature, the solution is wisdom, characterized by a deep, inward consistency of character." There it is—wisdom is the answer! Act with wisdom, and you will be able to tame your tongue!
Yet, the Book of James complicates matters. Upon careful reading, the author distinguishes between two types of wisdom: that which is from above, and that which appears to be from below.
Wisdom from below is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. It is marked by envy and thrives on selfish ambition, leading to disorder and every kind of wicked practice.
Conversely, wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. It yields fruits of righteousness, sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
Today, I invite you to reflect on which description of wisdom—or the values observed in this city, this country, or the "Christian" principles we were taught—aligns more closely with the wisdom from above described by James.
Whenever I hear stories of conflict and confrontation, a particular thought always comes to mind: "we are always the heroes of our own stories." We insist on winning the argument, delivering the most cutting response that leaves our adversary speechless, and having the final word. Is this wisdom from above or wisdom from below?
Ayrton Senna, a Brazilian Formula 1 driver, famously said, "Being second is to be the first of those who lose." Who wants to be a loser, right? Is this wisdom from above or wisdom from below?
A quote from the book Art of the Deal underscores this mentality: "I'm the first to admit that I am very competitive and that I'll do nearly anything within legal bounds to win. Sometimes, part of making a deal is denigrating your competition." Is this wisdom from above or wisdom from below?
In contrast, consider Giácomo Cassese's definition of wisdom in his commentary on this passage. He describes the traits of wisdom as genuine and authentic humility, an accurate perception of oneself, awareness of one's flaws and limitations, and the ability to identify the source of perfection.
Wisdom is not about having low self-esteem, feeling ashamed, or acting timidly. Rather, it involves knowing oneself in relation to the knowledge one has of God.
Humility is recognizing one's errors and understanding that, apart from the wisdom we gain from God, we will invariably make poor choices. God is the sole source of perfection.
Lying about the truth does not demonstrate that your actions are conducted with gentleness born of wisdom. Nor does striving to win every argument without listening to others' concerns, envying others, engaging in selfish ambition, or attempting to undermine your competitors.
As James tells us, such behaviors do not reflect the wisdom that descends from above but are earthly, unspiritual, and devilish.
Wisdom from Above Comes from Springfield
I want to conclude today by highlighting a place where I've witnessed wisdom from above in action. Mike Ferguson from Presbyterian News Service wrote an article titled "We didn't know what was coming, but God did." This title reflects the words of Reverend Jody Noble, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Ohio. The church is home to four Haitian families. Reverend Noble has baptized children from these families, who are regular attendees at Sunday worship. "If they’re not here, I get a text saying they are working. They are beautiful people," she noted.
The article sheds light on how Covenant Presbyterian Church is responding to a local crisis, sparked by baseless accusations against the Haitian community. This is not new. Such narratives echo the sentiments found in the Book of Exodus, where the Pharisee expressed concern about the growing number of strangers in town, fearing their strength and numbers. It’s simple to denounce those who are different: "You’re so big! So green! Those enormous teeth look so dangerous. Nobody wants you here. Go away!"
However, the "wisdom from above" described in James 3 is evident in the congregation's actions. The church embodies peace, mercy, and compassion—hallmarks of true wisdom—by welcoming and supporting Haitian immigrants amidst community unrest and unfounded accusations. Their commitment to kindness, care, and hospitality mirrors God's wisdom, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, and full of mercy. They stand steadfast in their faith, countering fear and division in their community and setting an example of genuine wisdom.
It's easy to point fingers at others. It's easy to make unfounded accusations based on unverified rumors to sway those who don't question your words to your side. It's easy to wield fear as a weapon, creating a false impression of enemies everywhere. This represents the "wisdom from below"—the belief that cheating, bending the rules, or stealing to get what you want is the best way to achieve greatness, respect, and victory at all costs, irrespective of morality or fairness.
What is more challenging for humans, and what James implores us to do, as Margaret Aymer suggests in her commentary on this passage, is to "consider where our loyalties lie, and how we know.” She invites us to live “turning away from the jealousies and resentments of the world at large, toward the peaceful leadership of those full of godly wisdom." Or, as a famous prayer says:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Wisdom from above. And then, the fruit of righteousness will be sown in peace by those who make peace.
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