NOTES for Jam 5:16

Why should we confess one to another the faults we commit? Isn’t sufficient the fact that God knows them? Well, it would have been clear again, if it was about a fault towards this person, - so this fault lies between us, as a barrier for genuine relationship, relationships are darkened by the hiding of this fault and its burdensome possible consequences. Confession opens the road for forgiveness, which deletes all barriers. It is clear. But why is it necessary to confess the faults, which do not concern this person?

May be, because in the Church we are members one another and sin in one of us affects the entire body. And again confession leads to forgiveness and the healing of the spiritual disease of sin as well for the sinner, as for the entire body. Moreover, faults result from spiritual problems, and their knowledge allows other people to pray "aiming" for these problems, which means for healing.

It is still probably necessary to say that the expression used here by the apostle James should not mislead us: it is not the prayer that heals, it is not the prayer that "availed much" – only God can avail much and heal, and prayer is the testimony of our will to accept His Grace, His healing.

We often do not even remember that our whole life actually unfolds before the eyes of the Lord, and that in any situation we can turn to Him and He will hear us, because He is always near us. Prayer is abiding in God’s presence, listening to God, and speaking with Him. In suffering, we can ask God for help, or we can simply weep with Him. In joy, we can thank Him for it, or simply rejoice beside the Lord. In illness, we can implore God for healing and ask our friends to pray for us, or we can patiently accept what the Lord has given us. Both paths are beautiful; both are with the Lord. The main thing is always to remember God and live in His presence. The season of the Holy Forty Days is now approaching, a time when the Church invites us to remember precisely this, when all the texts and all the services lead us to remember that God created time as well, and that time belongs to Him. During these days it is easier to remember that we live constantly before the face of the Lord and, perhaps, easier to live in such a way that it is not very painful for the Lord to look at us.

In today's reading, the Apostle James advises us to confess our offenses to one another. This phrase is one of the biblical foundations of the sacrament of Repentance. But it is also important to us in its simplest and most obvious meaning: indeed, how important it is, after doing something foolish, to admit it in time... It would seem obvious—and yet how difficult it is.

The readings from the Epistle of James over the last several days have been so simple, as though addressed to children. Let us not pretend that we are the most mature and the wisest. It does each of us good to recall the simplest things from time to time—such as these words: “Confess your offenses to one another and pray for one another.”

The intensity with which James denounces the rich reaches its peak. But next we see an appeal to those being oppressed to be patient, and here numerous opponents of Christianity have often exclaimed: “Aha, working people must endure oppression! So you Christians are on the side of the exploiters!”

Yet an attentive and unbiased reading does not permit such an interpretation. Just protest against social evil does not contradict the apostle’s words; the epistle itself bears witness to this. Nor is patience required in order to encourage oppressors, but because they are already condemned if they do not repent. A violent protest against earthly evil has too often turned into a destructive revolt which, after bloodshed, ended in defeat and renewed enslavement. But persistent and patient defense of justice has often proved more fruitful and victorious. This, too, is labor, and it is impossible without patience. Labor is necessary under every social order, and therefore we must be patient until the coming of the Lord.

Here James also reminds us of the power of prayer, something every Christian knows in principle but which in practice is all too often underestimated. To those of us who do not consider ourselves capable of boldness in prayer, he points to the great prophet Elijah, unexpectedly calling him a man like us (rather than calling us people like him!). This means that the spiritual power the Lord gave Elijah He can give to us as well. If only we will receive it.