Readings and reflection on the Feast of Saint James, apostle
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Thursday, 25 July 2013
First Reading 2 Cor. 4:7-15.
Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen
vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are
afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to
despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always
carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may
also be manifested in our body.
For we who live are constantly being given up to death for
the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal
flesh.
So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to
what is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," we too believe and
therefore speak,
knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us
also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence.
Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in
abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the
glory of God.
Psalm 126
We were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
We are glad indeed.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
Like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
Shall reap rejoicing.
Although they go forth weeping,
Carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
Carrying their sheaves.
Gospel of St. Matt 20:20-28.
The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her
sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her, "What do you wish?" She answered
him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the
other at your left, in your kingdom."
Jesus said in reply, "You do not know what you are
asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?" They said to him,
"We can."
He replied, "My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit
at my right and at my left (, this) is not mine to give but is for those for
whom it has been prepared by my Father."
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two
brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the
rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their
authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to
be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you
shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to
serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Commentary of the day
:
I have been to the grave of St James in Spain (called 'Santiago' in Spanish) well, at least they claim its his body but I really have my doubts. We were 'fortunate' to be there on the one day of the year they allow you to get close to his body during a holy week where the pilgrims return from their big walk of 700kms to the Church of Santiago de Campostella. The day had lots of highlights but the biggest one is the swinging of a gigantic thurible. (Click on link if you are interested in seeing it).
But all that digresses from my main message of today being that James and his brother John were closest friends of Jesus and still they initially sought power and glory instead of sincerely wishing to follow Jesus (as today's story that St Matthew attributes to their mother while the other authors of synoptic Gospels suggest that it was James and John themselves that sought the honour of sitting on either side of Jesus in His glory).
James and John, instead of being offered glory are offered trials and a traumatic death which they freely accepted. Can you accept the Cross in your life when you choose to follow Jesus? Or are you like most Christians who just want the glory, the associations and the promise of divine providence?
Saint Augustine
(354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Sermon for the
ordination of a bishop, Guelferbytanus no.32 ; PLS 2, 637
"Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?"
“Christ laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down
our lives for our brothers” (1Jn 3,16)... Jesus said to Peter: “When you were
younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow
old,... someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to
go...” (John 21:18). It was the Cross, the Passion, he promised him. “Go even
so far as to pasture my sheep, suffer for my sheep.” This is what a good bishop
is to be like. If he is not, he is no bishop...Now listen to this other
testimony. Two of his disciples, the brothers John and James who were sons of
Zebedee, were ambitious for the first place without consideration for the
others... Our Lord answered them: “You do not know what you are asking”, for he
added: “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” What cup is this if
not that... of the Passion?... And they, forgetting their weakness, immediately
said: “We can”. Then he said to them: “My cup you will indeed drink. But to sit
at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has
been prepared by my Father”... In this way he gave proof of his humility for,
in fact, everything the Father prepares is prepared, too, for the Son... He
came in humility: he, the Creator, was created amongst us; he made us, but he
was made for us. God before time began, man in time, he delivered man from
time. This great physician has come to heal our cancer...; by his example he
has come to heal pride itself. This is what we must give our attention to in
the Lord: let us consider his humility, drink the cup of his humility, clasp
him, contemplate him. How easy it is to have elevated thoughts, easy to take
pleasure in honours, easy to give one's ear to flatterers and people who praise
us. But to bear with insult, patiently undergo humiliation, pray for those who
persecute us (Mt 5,39.44): that is the Lord's cup, that is the Lord's feast.
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