Saint James Intercisus was a Persian Christian and favored courtier of King Yazdegerd I who, fearing to lose the king's favor, abandoned his faith. Rebuked by his mother and his wife, he repented and openly professed Christ before the new king, Bahram V. He was martyred around the year 421 by being slowly cut to pieces, which is why he is called Intercisus, 'the cut-up one.'
James shows that a fall from faith is never the end of the story; his family's honest love called him back, and God's mercy made a courtier into a martyr. His courage under a slow, deliberate death reminds us that grace can carry us through suffering one moment at a time.
Lord, when we have wandered from You, call us home as You called Saint James, and give us his steadfast courage to belong to You in every trial. Amen.