St James the Mangled
On the 27th day of the Coptic month of Hator we celebrate the Life of Saint James the Mangled.
James was one of the soldiers of Sakrod, the son of Shapur, King of Persia. Because of his courage and his uprightness, he was promoted to the highest rank in the king's court. He found favor and access to the king, who even counselled with him on many affairs. In this way, he influenced James greatly to the extent that he turned his heart away from worshipping the Lord Christ.
When his mother, his wife, and his sister heard that he adopted the king's belief, they wrote to him saying, "Why have you forsaken the faith in the Lord Christ and worshipped the created objects, the fire and the sun? Know that if you persist in what you are doing, we will disown you and you will become a stranger to us." When he read their letter, he wept and said, "If by doing that, I have become a stranger to my own family and my people, how would the situation be with my Lord Jesus Christ?" Consequently, he resigned from the king's service and devoted his time to reading the holy books.
When the news reached the king, he summoned for James. When the King saw the change that had befallen him, he ordered that James be beaten severely and if he did not change his belief, he was to be cut up with knives. They cut off his fingers, his hands, his legs and his arms. Each time they cut off a piece of his body, he praised the Lord and sang saying, "Have mercy upon me O Lord according to Your great compassion." (Psalm 50:1) Eventually, nothing was left of him except his head, his breast and his loins.
When he knew that his time was near, he entreated the Lord to have mercy and compassion upon the world and the people therein. He apologized for not standing in the presence of the mighty Lord and said, "I have neither legs to stand before Thee, nor hands to lift up to Thee, behold the parts of my body have been cast around me, O Lord receive my soul." Straightaway, the Lord Christ appeared to him, comforted, and strengthened him and his soul rejoiced. Before he delivered up his soul, one of the guards made haste and cut off his head. He thus received the crown of martyrdom. Some of the believers then came forward and took his body, wrapped it and buried it.
When his mother, his sister, and his wife heard that he was martyred, they rejoiced for his soul and came to where the body was and kissed it, weeping. They shrouded it in expensive cloth and poured sweet scents and perfumed oil over it. A church and a monastery were built in his name during the reign of the righteous Emperors Arcadius and Honourius.
When the king of Persia heard the news of the miracles and wonders which appeared through the body of St. James and of the other honored martyrs, he ordered all the bodies of the martyrs in all parts of his kingdom, to be burnt. Some of the believers came and took the body of St. James and brought it to Jerusalem and entrusted it to St. Peter El-Rahawy, Bishop of Gaza.
The body remained there until the reign of Marcianus, who persecuted the Orthodox Christians everywhere. St. Peter, the Bishop, took the body to Egypt. There he went to the city of Behnasa, where he stayed in a monastery occupied by devoted monks. It happened that at the sixth hour, while they were praying in the place where the holy body was laid, St. James appeared to them with many other martyrs of Persia. They joined them in singing, blessed them and disappeared. Before leaving, however, St. James told them that his body should stay there as the Lord commanded. Despite this, when Anba Peter the Bishop, decided to return to his country, he took the body with him. When he arrived at the seashore, the body was taken from their hands and returned to the place where it had originally been.
Lessons from this story
“..what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matt 19:6) There are many of us that get drawn away from a life in the church. This world is filled with alluring deceptions designed specifically to preoccupy you so there is no room for reading the Bible, going to church or even fasting. Understand that this is by the design of the evil one. Is it wrong to want to work and make a comfortable living for you and your family? Of course not, but you should know that it is all temporary and can be taken away in the blink of an eye. Yes do your part in this world to ensure safety for you and your family, but that includes time for God, time for your spiritual salvation.
There is a growning at times that the liturgy at church is too long. The deacons chant linger too long, or the sermon puts you to sleep, whatever the reason, there at times is s grumbling that the liturgy is too long. “After a week of working 12 to 14 hours a day I just need a day of rest.” No one faults you for that. In fact God agrees with you that there should be a day of rest. But understand the meaning, it is a day of rest, not a day of laziness.
Rest your cares at the foot of the altar. Rest your fears upon the icon of the risen creator. Rest your anxieties about work, life and family on the words of comfort that come from your time with God. A visit with Him is just as important as visit with a dear friend, a parent or other loved one. Important for both you and Him. A day of rest? Yes, a day for you to rest your weary soul and drink from the fountain of eternal youth and energy.
And just like St. James, if you get too lazy in your faith, your mother, your sister and your wife will let you know.
Prayer
Lord always strengthen our resolve to ever work on a lasting relationship with you, a daily communion between us, that our spirits and souls are lifted above the dirt of this world. May the prayers of St James be with us always, amen.