An Open Letter to a Suffering Brother in Christ

Dear Brother in Christ,

Let us read from The Catholic Epistle of Saint Iakavos/James. The Book of James is a significant book of the Bible, even though Luther despised it (and almost removed it along with Jonah, 2nd Maccabees, Esther, Jude, Hebrews, 2nd Peter, 2nd John, 3rd John, and the Apocalypse/Revelation of Saint John) because it did not mesh with his new theology that he invented almost 50 years ago. Not only does it say Faith without Works is dead more than a half dozen different ways (James 2:14, 2:17, 2:20, 2:21, 2:22, 2:24, and 2:25), but it tells us what to do when we are sick, or others are sick, whether physically or spiritually.

Chapter 5 starts with admonishing the rich, and then goes on an exhortation for us to be patient with each other. But by verses 13-16, it is instructing us on what to do about when one needs help.

"Is anyone among you suffering ill? Let him keep on praying. Is anyone cheerful? Let him keep on chanting. Is anyone among you infirm? Let him call for the presbyters (priests) of the Church; and let them pray over him, having anointed him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the (presbyter's) prayer of faith shall save the one who is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he be one who hath committed sins, it shall be forgiven him. Keep on confessing your transgressions to one another and praying for one another, that ye might be healed. The entreaty of a righteous man hath much strength when it is energized."

 Elsewhere in the Bible, if we are having quarrel we are told by God the Son, Jesus Christ Himself exactly what to do, in this case I quote The Gospel of Saint Matthew Chapter 18, Verses 15-17:

"But if thy brother should commit a sin against thee, go and reprove him between thee and him alone. If he hear thee, thou didst gain thy brother. But if he hear thee not, take along with thee either one or two more, that 'at the mouth of two witnesses, or three, every word might be made to stand.' And if he take no heed of them, tell it to the Church. But if he taketh no heed of the Church, let him be to the even as the heathen and the tax collector."

Sadly, sometimes we even have issues with our spouses, but we still should take the above advice. If we cannot fix it among ourselves, then we ask other brothers and sisters to assist, if we still have the same problem, then we go to the ordained clergy of the Church: the deacons, the presbyters, and the bishops. This is the right thing for one of the spouses to do according to the Word of God in the Holy Bible.

Also off notice, if we continue in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, Chapter 18, at Verse 21, Christ reminds us to always forgive:

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how ofter shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?" Jesus saith to him, "I say not to thee, 'Until seven times,' but, 'Until seventy times seven.'

 Harder to do than to say, but still what we are called to do. Numerous times. Earlier in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, in Chapter 7 and thee Gospel of Luke, in Chapter 6, after warning the rich they will not be rich in the Kingdom of Heaven, but that the poor will be, Christ says not to judge anyone's heart at all. In Verses 37-38, God the Son says:

"And cease judging, and in no wise shall ye be judged; cease condemning, and in no wise shall ye be condemned; keep on acquitting, and ye shall be acquitted. Keep on giving, and it shall be given to you: a good measure which hath been pressed down and shaken together, and is overflowing shall they give into your bosom; for with the same measure with which ye measure, it shall be measured in turn to you."

Please do not be angry that your spouse went to the Church, to it's pastor of the sheep, to help. This was the right thing to do. It was the Biblical thing to do. It was what God told us to do through the writings of His Apostles. The advice she got in doing this, was exactly what she needed, which should improve this problem soon.