It just seems yesterday  🙂  The 25th July is St James’ Day in the Church’s calendar and it is the day on which I was ordained a bishop and installed (not a brilliant word but in my view preferrable to ‘enthroned’) as Bishop of Tasmania.

 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them Jesus gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”) Mark 3: ¹⁷   This ‘James’ is referred to as James the Greater not to be confused with James the brother of Jesus who presided at the Jerusalem Council, Acts 15.

I have often reflected on Jesus’ calling of these two fiery brothers, “sons of thunder”, to follow him, the Prince of Peace.

Certainly there are grounds for disagreeing with Jesus’ choice of James and John to be among the 12 disciples and indeed to be members of Jesus’ inner circle of 3 apostles along with Peter (surely another woeful choice of a measured and erudite apostle/ leader?).

Recall the reaction of James and John to the refusal of a Samaritan village to offer accommodation to Jesus?

⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” ⁵⁵ But Jesus turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶ Then he and his disciples went to another village.   Luke 9:54-56

How then does John become the one to whom Jesus entrusts the care of his mother, Mary, at the crucifixion? How does James become the first Apostle to be martyred for teaching about Jesus? Note: James did not lead a violent struggle by fiery fighting or fiery burnings and death by sword against the ruling classes but rather by prayer and teaching). James’ symbol is a scallop shell (he was a fisherman)not a spear. The way of Christ is examined and transformed by Christ, see Norwegian killer: a Christian fundamentalist?

Transformation comes through looking to and being with Jesus. Surely James and John were transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit and their 3 years spent with Jesus Christ and then with his followers after Christ’s death and resurrection, Acts 1 and 2.

Dear Father of faithfulness continue to parent me with tender strength that I may grow in the likeness of Christ and show forth in my life the fruit of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ precious name, in the power of the Holy Spirit and for the glory of God. Amen.

I continue to pray the blessing I wrote for and prayed at my ordination in 2000, A Blessing for Tasmania.