Friday, July 25, 2025

 

Feast of Saint James, apostle

(II Corinthians 4:7-15; Matthew 20:20-28)

In the first three gospels James, the brother of John, is the first of the twelve apostles called by Jesus.  In the Acts of the Apostles he is the first to give his life for him.  In today’s reading from Matthew James, together with his brother John, answers affirmatively to Jesus’ query regarding their being able to drink from the same chalice as he.  Whether or not James realized at the time that Jesus was referring to the shedding of his blood is beside the point.  In time he learned that just as Jesus suffered death for his teachings, he and the other apostles would likely come to the same end.

James had to be a man of courage.  Timid people would have withdrawn from full discipleship at the sight of crucifixion. James went ahead taking Jesus at his word that faithfulness to him would not end in death but in eternal life.  In a matter of a few years after Jesus’ death James was put to the sword by Herod Agrippa’ henchmen.  Perhaps because of his courage he has been adopted by Spain, a nation proud of its warrior heritage, as its patron.

Courage, a gift of the Holy Spirit, enables us to overcome inner desires as well as resistance from others.  With courage we can keep lust and greed at bay.  It helps us to remain on track to meet the Lord favorably at judgment.

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Feast of Saint James, apostle

(II Corinthians 4:7-15; Matthew 20:20-28)

A sonnet by an anonymous Spanish mystic tells of perfect Christian love.  It reads that the author is not moved to love God by the hope of heaven or to fear God by the fire of hell.  No, what moves this devotee is God’s love for him demonstrated on the cross.  In today’s gospel Jesus helps James and John rise to that perfect love.

The situation appears pathetic.  The mother of James and John comes to bid for her sons’ high places in Jesus’ kingdom.  Jesus, however, does not allow the woman to embarrass his apostles.  He calls them to solidarity with him in the suffering which he is bound to endure.  The two brothers willingly assent.  Then Jesus tells them that he cannot reward them with the seats of highest honor.  Rather he says that the secular order will be reversed in his kingdom.  There those who serve will be considered great, not those who sit in high places.

Catholics are sometimes criticized for loving God out of a supposedly selfish concern to achieve eternal life.  This desire is not selfish but natural.  After all, we are made to love ourselves as well as others.  But life teaches us, as Jesus instructs James and John, that there is something better than a high place in heaven.  That, of course, is standing with Jesus in suffering as well as in rejoicing.  We come to understand that the happiness of heaven consists precisely in Jesus’ companionship.

Wednesday, July 25, 2017

Saint James, apostle

(II Corinthians 4:7-15; Matthew 20:20-28)

As gruesome statistics testify, women are often abused by the men in their lives.  Despite its affront to human dignity, domestic violence too often goes unreported and, consequently, unaddressed.  Domestic violence comprises the proverbial “elephant in the room” of which everyone is aware, but no one wants to talk about.  Sometimes, however, someone breaks the stifling silence to report the crime.  That person acts prophetically like, it is easy to imagine, James the Apostle whose feast we are celebrating today.

The gospel pictures James as the son of Zebedee who, along with his brother John, boldly answers that he can drink from the chalice that Jesus is about to take.  The Acts of the Apostles testifies that James did indeed suffer martyrdom. In fact, it appears that he was the first of the Twelve to do so.  Perhaps he spoke up boldly again when Herod Agrippa’s henchmen started looking for Jesus’ followers.  In any case he gave witness to the Lord with his life.

Probably more often than we want to admit we too should speak up in Christ’s name.  When we see hints of domestic violence, for example, we should at least ask questions.  Giving witness to Christ is more than dying at the hands of people who hate him.  It includes raising our voices, as Jesus did, on behalf of the oppressed.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Feast of Saint James, apostle

(II Corinthians 4:7-15; Matthew 20:20-28)

In an old television drama the father of a teenage basketball player comes in a room bragging about his son’s performance the night before. “Twenty-seven points,” he gloats, “How about that kid of mine?”  Nobody seems interested in listening to him, however.  His son hogged the ball, and the team lost.  In the gospel today the mother of James and John sounds a bit like this proud father as she recommends her sons to Jesus.

Jesus does not chastise the brothers for desiring higher offices.  He does not call their ambition a sin or tell them that they should be ashamed.  What concerns him is the possibility that the brothers seek the positions to call attention to themselves.  Jesus advises the twelve that leaders are not to take advantage of their followers.  He puts himself as an example: as he – the Son of Man destined to judge the world – does not seek his own welfare but the good of all, so must they, his disciples, follow suit.

James learned the lesson well. He became the first of Jesus’ twelve apostles to give witness to their master with his life.  Today we honor him both by our prayers and, more importantly, by our imitation of his sacrifice that gives glory to Jesus.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Feast of Saint James, apostle

(II Corinthians 4:7-15; Matthew 20:20-28)

In an old television drama the father of a teenage basketball player comes in a room bragging about his son’s performance the night before. “Twenty-seven points,” he shouts, “How about that kid of mine?”  Nobody seems interested in listening to him, however.  His son hogged the ball, and the team lost.  In the gospel today the mother of James and John sounds a bit like this proud father as she recommends her sons to Jesus.

Jesus does not chastise the brothers for desiring higher offices.  He does not call their ambition a sin or tell them that they should be ashamed of their mother.  What concerns him is the possibility that the brothers seek vainglory and not the good of others.  Jesus advises the twelve that leaders must seek the welfare of their followers.  He uses himself as an example.  Just as he – the Son of Man destined to judge the world – does not seek his own good but that of everyone, so must they, his disciples, follow suit.

James learned the lesson well. He became the first of Jesus’ twelve apostles to give witness to their master with his life.  Today we honor him both by our prayers and, more importantly, by our imitation of his sacrifice that gives glory to Jesus.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Saint James, apostle

(II Corinthians 4:7-15; Matthew 20:20-28)

As gruesome statistics testify, women are often abused by the men in their lives. Despite the affront to human dignity, domestic violence too often goes unreported and, consequently, unaddressed. Domestic violence comprises the proverbial “elephant in the room” of which everyone is aware, but no one wants to talk about. Sometimes, however, someone breaks the stifling silence to report the crime. That person acts prophetically like, it is easy to imagine, James the Apostle whose feast we are celebrating today.

The gospel pictures James as the son of Zebedee who, along with his brother John, boldly answers that he can drink from the chalice that Jesus is about to take. The Acts of the Apostles testifies that James did indeed suffer martyrdom. In fact, it appears that he was the first of the Twelve to do so. Perhaps he spoke up boldly again when Herod Agrippa’s henchmen started looking for Jesus’ followers. In any case he gave witness to the Lord with his life.

Probably more often than we want to admit we too should speak up in Christ’s name. When we see hints of domestic violence, for example, we should at least ask questions. Giving witness to Christ is more than dying at the hands of people who hate him. It includes raising our voices, like Jesus, on behalf of the oppressed.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Feast of Saint James, apostle

(II Corinthians 4:7-15; Matthew 20:20-28)

In an old television drama the father of a teenage basketball player comes in a room bragging about his son’s performance the night before. “Twenty-seven points,” he shouts, “How about that for my kid?” Nobody seems interested in listening to him, however. His son hogged the ball, and the team lost. In the gospel today the mother of James and John sounds a bit like this proud father as she recommends her sons to Jesus.

Jesus does not chastise the brothers for desiring higher offices. He does not call their ambition a sin or tell them that they should be ashamed. What concerns him is the possibility that the brothers seek the positions to call attention to themselves. Jesus advises the twelve that leaders are not to take advantage of their followers. He puts himself as an example: as he – the Son of Man destined to judge the world – does not seek his own welfare but the good of all, so must they, his disciples, follow suit.

James learned the lesson well. He became the first of Jesus’ twelve apostles to give witness to their master with his life. Today we honor him both by our prayers and, more importantly, by our imitation of his sacrifice that gives glory to Jesus.

Homilette for Friday, July 25, 2008

Feast of St. James, Apostle

(Matthew 20:20-28)

According to the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke, St. James is one of Jesus’ first and most intimate disciples. Along with Peter and John, James accompanies Jesus to the mountaintop of transfiguration and to his place of agony in Gethsemane. He is also featured with John as the one of the brothers who (or, as we have it today, whose mother) make the pretentious bid for the seats of highest honor in Jesus’ kingdom. The Acts of the Apostles features James as the first of the twelve to be martyred. Despite these Scriptural references, Europe remembers St. James more as a legend than as a biblical figure. He is said to have visited Spain where, since the early Middle Ages, pilgrims have traveled to his supposed tomb in the city of Compostela.

A pilgrimage symbolizes the Christian journey to God. The destination of life’s pilgrimage is the heavenly city where the faithful find relaxation in the Lord. Pilgrims enjoy moments of companionship with one another and the hospitality of local people along the way. These experiences anticipate the end of the journey. We may have never been on a full-blown pilgrimage, but perhaps we have participated in a procession, which is a mini-pilgrimage. Processions, we remember, are filled with distractions – people greeting one another or complaining how their feet ache! -- even as they recite the rosary.

So we should not be too surprised at the shameless request of James and John’s mother as Jesus is finishing his journey to Jerusalem. She is part of a bigger movement given to a bit of recklessness. As we walk with the Lord on life’s journey, let us ask him to forgive our sins and to help us control inordinate desires. Like the mother of James and John let us boldly make our request.