Is God working 'his' purpose out?

Proverbs 31, Psalm 1, James 3, Mark 9

It is often difficult to get back into the thought-world of ancient Israel. Today’s example is the reading from Proverbs 31, which celebrates the economic benefits resulting from marriage to a good woman. Hardly the last word in romantic praise, but then the idea that marriage should be based on romantic love may be relatively recent. Or is that just an example of class-unconsciousness? Biblical translation has also affected our understanding of this passage, which used to begin with the immortal words, ‘A good woman who can find? Her price is far above rubies’.

The reading from St. James’ letter, on the other hand, mostly seems quite contemporary. There are two statements in particular that I want to highlight. The first is that ‘a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace ‘ - it expresses a hope, but doesn’t shed any light on how to make peace. The second is ‘You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly’, which is clearly an example of the early church agonising over Jesus’ ‘ask, and you will receive’.

How many of the people who ask for peace and justice are asking wrongly? And what would constitute a wrong request for peace? I can suggest a few answers, but none of them helps me to see that ‘God is working his purpose out’. The refugee crisis is still overshadowing everything this week, but there doesn’t seem to be anything new to say about it. All that today’s readings offer us is ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.’ perhaps that’s all we need.