Saint James, Apostle — Feast
First Reading
2 Corinthians 4:7–15
We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body.
Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – I believed, and therefore I spoke – we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us.
You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of God.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 125(126):1–6
When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted.
Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy. Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great things for them.
The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful.
Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Going they went and wept, casting their seeds.
But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.
Psalm text: Douay-Rheims Bible
Gospel Acclamation
cf. John 15:16
Alleluia, alleluia!
I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord,
to go and bear fruit that will last.
Alleluia!
Gospel
Matthew 20:20–28
The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’
She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.’
‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’
They replied, ‘We can.’
‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.’
When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt.
This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
Reflection
Saint James is remembered as an apostle, a witness and a martyr. Yet today’s Gospel does not introduce him as someone who already understands the cost of discipleship. He and his brother approach Jesus with a very human desire: they want important places in the kingdom.
It is easy to criticise their ambition, but most of us understand it. We want our effort to be noticed. We want some assurance that sacrifice will eventually lead to recognition, security or influence. Even when serving God, we can quietly hope that faithfulness will earn us a more honoured place.
Jesus does not humiliate James. Instead, he asks a question that reaches beneath the request: “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?”
The cup is not merely suffering for suffering’s sake. It is the complete offering of oneself in love. Jesus will drink it by surrendering his life for the salvation of others. His kingship will be revealed not through domination but through the Cross: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Catechism teaches that Christ’s whole life is an offering to the Father and that his death is the unique sacrifice accomplishing our redemption (CCC 606–618). To share his cup is therefore to allow our lives to take the same shape: obedience to the Father, love for others and self-giving service.
This is where Paul’s image of earthenware jars becomes important. An earthenware jar is ordinary, fragile and easily broken. The treasure does not come from the container. Its value lies in what it carries.
Paul does not hide the cost of apostleship. He speaks of being pressured, perplexed, persecuted and knocked down. Yet none of these experiences has the final word. He may be fragile, but he is not abandoned. The life of the risen Christ continues to be revealed through him precisely where his human strength proves insufficient.
We often assume that being useful to God requires appearing strong, confident and completely in control. Paul tells us otherwise. God does not wait until every crack has disappeared before entrusting us with his grace. He works through real people who become tired, uncertain and wounded. Their endurance makes it clear that the sustaining power belongs to God.
The virtue of fortitude enables a person to remain firm in difficulties and constant in the pursuit of what is good. It does not remove vulnerability or fear; it strengthens us to face them faithfully (CCC 1808). James eventually received this grace. The man who once sought a throne of honour became the first of the apostles to give his life in martyrdom.
The Church recognises martyrdom as the supreme witness to the truth of the faith: a witness extending even to death (CCC 2473). James ultimately drank the cup that Jesus placed before him. His greatness did not come from receiving the position he originally requested. It came from allowing Christ to transform ambition into service and confidence into faithful surrender.
The psalm gives us another image of this transformation: people going out in tears while carrying seed and returning joyfully with the harvest. The tears are real, but they are not wasted. What appears to be loss can become the ground from which God brings new life.
Some seasons of service feel like sowing without seeing any result. We help someone who does not thank us. We remain faithful while others receive the recognition. We carry responsibilities that nobody notices. We pray while nothing seems to change.
Christian hope does not pretend that these experiences are painless. It trusts that nothing offered to God in love is wasted. The Catechism reminds us that the way of perfection passes by way of the Cross and that there is no holiness without spiritual battle and self-renunciation (CCC 2015).
Jesus completely overturns the world’s understanding of authority. Among his disciples, authority cannot be used to make personal importance felt. Christian leadership must resemble Christ: it serves, lifts burdens and seeks the good of others. The Church’s ministry is inseparably linked with service because Christ himself is the source and model of all ministry (CCC 876).
This teaching reaches beyond formal leadership. It applies within families, workplaces, parishes and ordinary relationships. Whenever we possess responsibility, knowledge or influence, we must decide how it will be used. We can use it to protect our position, or we can use it to help someone else flourish.
Saint James reminds us that discipleship is a journey of conversion. We do not need to begin with perfectly purified motives. We need to remain close enough to Jesus for him to purify them. He can transform our desire to be important into a willingness to serve. He can use our fragility to reveal his strength. He can receive what has been sown in tears and bring forth a harvest of grace.
One line to carry today:
Greatness is not found in the place we are given, but in the love with which we serve.
No comments:
Post a Comment