Catholic Commentary on James 5

"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)

Warning to the Rich and Patient Suffering

James issues a final warning to the rich who have hoarded wealth, whose gold and silver have corroded, who have failed to pay their workers. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. The community is to be patient under suffering, like the farmer who waits for the precious fruit of the earth. Be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near. Do not grumble against one another, or you will be judged. Take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of patience in the face of suffering. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

The Prayer of the Righteous

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being even as we are; he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain for three and a half years. Again he prayed and the heavens gave rain and the earth produced its crops. The Catechism identifies the anointing of the sick in James 5 as one of the seven sacraments, the sacrament by which the Church continues the healing ministry of Christ for those who are gravely ill (CCC 1511).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James does not say this to produce anxiety about whether you are righteous enough to have your prayers heard. He says it to stir up the faith that makes prayer bold. Elijah was a human being even as we are. You are a human being even as Elijah was. Pray earnestly. Pray with expectation. The one who hears is full of compassion and mercy.

Prayer

Lord God, full of compassion and mercy, receive the prayers of your people. Heal the sick who are anointed in your name. Forgive the sins of those who confess to one another. And let our prayer be powerful and effective, like Elijah's, because you hear and you act. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

5
A Warning to the Rich
(Proverbs 23:1–5; 1 Timothy 6:17–19)
1 Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire.
 
You have hoarded treasure in the last days. 4 Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.
 
5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.
Patience in Suffering
(Job 1:1–5)
 
7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.* 5:7 Literally for it until it receives the early and the late 8 You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!
 
10 Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
 
12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.
The Prayer of Faith
 
13 Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
 
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.
Restoring a Sinner
 
19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

*5:7 5:7 Literally for it until it receives the early and the late

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