Feast of Saint James, Apostle
Lectionary: 605
Lectionary: 605
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.
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.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 126:1BC-2AB, 2CD-3,
4-5, 6
R. (5) Those
who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap 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.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. Those who 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.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap 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.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. Those who 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.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
AlleluiaSEE JN 15:16
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 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 chalice that I am going to drink?"
They said to him, "We can."
He replied,
"My chalice 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."
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 chalice that I am going to drink?"
They said to him, "We can."
He replied,
"My chalice 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."
Meditation: "Not to be served but to
serve"
give his life as a ransom for many."
Meditation: Who
doesn't want to be first, and to be esteemed and honored by others? We
seem to have an unquenchable thirst for recognition and fame, power and
authority to rule our own lives as we please as well as the lives of others. Should
we be surprised to see the disciples of Jesus thirsting for power, position,
and authority? James and John, the sons of Zebedee, urged their mother to
strike a deal with Jesus, their Master and Messiah. They wanted the distinction
of being first and most important in position, next to Jesus, of course!
Jesus turns authority and power upside down
When Jesus called the twelve apostles to be his inner circle of disciples who would teach and exercise spiritual authority on his behalf, he did the unthinkable! Jesus taught contrary to the world's understanding of power, authority, and position, by reversing the order of master and servant, lord and subject, first and last! Jesus wedded authority with love, position with sacrifice, and service with humility. Authority without love is over-bearing and slavish. Position without respect and concern for the subordinate is demeaning and rude. And service without generosity and sacrifice is cheap and unkind.
When Jesus called the twelve apostles to be his inner circle of disciples who would teach and exercise spiritual authority on his behalf, he did the unthinkable! Jesus taught contrary to the world's understanding of power, authority, and position, by reversing the order of master and servant, lord and subject, first and last! Jesus wedded authority with love, position with sacrifice, and service with humility. Authority without love is over-bearing and slavish. Position without respect and concern for the subordinate is demeaning and rude. And service without generosity and sacrifice is cheap and unkind.
Those who wish to serve with the Lord Jesus and to
exercise authority in God's kingdom must be prepared to sacrifice - not just
some of their time, money, and resources - but their whole lives and all that
they possess! Jesus used stark language to explain what kind of sacrifice he
had in mind. His disciples must drink his cup if they expect to reign with him
in his kingdom. The cup he had in mind was a bitter one involving crucifixion.
What kind of cup does the Lord have in mind for us? For some disciples such a
cup entails physical suffering and the painful struggle of martyrdom. But for
many, it entails the long routine of the Christian life, with all its daily
sacrifices, disappointments, set-backs, struggles, and temptations.
Christ's way of love and service
A disciple of Jesus must be ready to lay down his or her life - each and every day in the little and big sacrifices required - and even to the point of shedding one's blood if necessary for the sake of Christ and his Gospel. What makes such sacrifice a joy rather than a burden? It is love - the kind of "love which God has poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). An early church father summed up Jesus' teaching with the expression: "to serve is to reign with Christ." We share in God's reign by laying down our lives in humble service and love for one another, just as Jesus did for our sake. Are you ready to lay down your life and to serve others as Jesus has taught and modeled for us?
A disciple of Jesus must be ready to lay down his or her life - each and every day in the little and big sacrifices required - and even to the point of shedding one's blood if necessary for the sake of Christ and his Gospel. What makes such sacrifice a joy rather than a burden? It is love - the kind of "love which God has poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). An early church father summed up Jesus' teaching with the expression: "to serve is to reign with Christ." We share in God's reign by laying down our lives in humble service and love for one another, just as Jesus did for our sake. Are you ready to lay down your life and to serve others as Jesus has taught and modeled for us?
"Lord Jesus, make me a servant of love for your
kingdom, that I may seek to serve rather than be served. Inflame my heart with
love that I may give generously and serve joyfully for your sake."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Not to be served but to serve, by John
Chrysostom (344-407 AD)
"[Jesus] says, 'The Son of man
came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
It is as if he were saying, 'I willed not even to stop at death but even in
death gave my life as a ransom. For whom? For enemies. For you. If you are
abused, my life is given for you. It is for you. Me for you.' So you need not
be too picky if you suffer the loss of your honor. No matter how much it is
lowered, you will not be descending as far as your Lord descended. And yet the
deep descent of one has become the ascent of all. His glory shines forth from
these very depths. For before he was made man, he was known among the angels
only. But after he was made man and was crucified, so far from lessening that
glory, he acquired further glory besides, even that from his personal knowledge
of the world."
"So fear not then, as though your honor were put down. Rather, be ready to abase yourself. For in this way your glory is exalted even more, and in this way it becomes greater. This is the door of the kingdom. Let us not then go the opposite way. Let us not war against ourselves. For if we desire to appear great, we shall not be great but even the most dishonored of all. Do you see how everywhere Jesus encourages them by turning things upside down? He gives them what they desire but in ways they did not expect. (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 65.4.25)
"So fear not then, as though your honor were put down. Rather, be ready to abase yourself. For in this way your glory is exalted even more, and in this way it becomes greater. This is the door of the kingdom. Let us not then go the opposite way. Let us not war against ourselves. For if we desire to appear great, we shall not be great but even the most dishonored of all. Do you see how everywhere Jesus encourages them by turning things upside down? He gives them what they desire but in ways they did not expect. (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 65.4.25)
FEAST OF SAINT JAMES, APOSTLE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, MATTHEW 20:28
(2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Psalm 126)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, MATTHEW 20:28
(2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Psalm 126)
KEY VERSE: "Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant" (v. 26).
TO KNOW: For the third time in Matthew's gospel, Jesus taught his disciples about his coming passion and death; yet they still did not comprehend the reality of his words. A woman approached Jesus with the request that her sons, James and John, receive special honor in his kingdom. Her misconception was that Jesus' reign was an earthly rule with temporal authority. The other disciples were indignant over this (did they wish that they had thought of it first?). Jesus reminded them that the way to the kingdom was not the path to glory. Being a disciple meant humble submission to the will of God. Jesus did not come to be served, but to offer his life as a ransom for those who were held captive to sin. James would share Jesus' suffering. He was the first apostle to be martyred. The Book of Acts repots that King Herod Agrippa "had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword," (Acts 12:2)
TO LOVE: Do I hand on the faith that I have received, just as the apostles did in their time?
TO SERVE: St. James, pray for me that I might courageously serve Christ as you did.
Wednesday 25
July 2018
St James.
2 Corinthians 4:7-15. Psalm 125(126). Matthew 20:20‑28.
Those who sow in tears, shall reap with shouts of joy—Psalm
125(126).
‘We hold this treasure in pots of earthenware, so that the
immensity of the power is God’s and not our own.’
What is it to be seated at the right and at the left of Jesus?
To the mother of James and John it meant authority and recognition. To the
disciples it may have been a sign of faithfulness, love or friendship.
To Jesus, however, it meant passion, humiliation and death.
Ultimately, it turned out that the mother of the two apostles
knew not what she asked for on behalf of her sons. Their subsequent life of
service and martyrdom would, ultimately, grant her wish.
Saint James the Apostle
Saint of the Day for July 25
(d. 44)
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| Detail | Santiago apóstol con donante | Jaime Baço |
Saint James the Apostle’s Story
This James is the brother of John the Evangelist. The two were
called by Jesus as they worked with their father in a fishing boat on the Sea
of Galilee. Jesus had already called another pair of brothers from a similar
occupation: Peter and Andrew. “He walked along a little farther and saw James,
the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their
nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along
with the hired men and followed him” (Mark 1:19-20).
James was one of the favored three who had the privilege of
witnessing the Transfiguration, the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus,
and the agony in Gethsemani.
Two incidents in the Gospels describe the temperament of this
man and his brother. Saint Matthew tells that their mother came—Mark says
it was the brothers themselves—to ask that they have the seats of honor in the
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’” (Matthew
20:22). Jesus then told them they would indeed drink the cup and share his
baptism of pain and death, but that sitting at his right hand or left was not
his to give—it “is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father”
(Matthew 20:23b). It remained to be seen how long it would take to realize the
implications of their confident “We can!”
The other disciples became indignant at the ambition of James
and John. Then Jesus taught them all the lesson of humble service: The purpose
of authority is to serve. They are not to impose their will on others, or lord
it over them. This is the position of Jesus himself. He was the servant of all;
the service imposed on him was the supreme sacrifice of his own life.
On another occasion, James and John gave evidence that the
nickname Jesus gave them—“sons of thunder”—was an apt one. The Samaritans would
not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to hated Jerusalem. “When the
disciples James and John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call
down fire from heaven to consume them?’ Jesus turned and rebuked them…” (Luke
9:54-55).
James was apparently the first of the apostles to be martyred.
“About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm
them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw
that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also” (Acts
12:1-3a).
This James, sometimes called James the Greater, is not to be
confused with James the Lesser or with the author of the Letter of
James and the leader of the Jerusalem community.
Reflection
The way the Gospels treat the apostles is a good reminder of
what holiness is all about. There is very little about their virtues as static
possessions, entitling them to heavenly reward. Rather, the great emphasis is
on the Kingdom, on God’s giving them the power to proclaim the Good News. As
far as their personal lives are concerned, there is much about Jesus’ purifying
them of narrowness, pettiness, fickleness.
Saint James the Apostle is the Patron Saint of:
Chile
Laborers
Nicaragua
Rheumatism
Spain
Laborers
Nicaragua
Rheumatism
Spain
LECTIO DIVINA: SAINT JAMES,
APOSTLE
Lectio Divina:
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Ordinary
Time
1) OPENING PRAYER
Lord,
be
merciful to Your people.
Fill
us with Your gifts
and
make us always eager to serve You
in
faith, hope and love.
You
live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) GOSPEL READING - MATTHEW
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 chalice
that I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can." He
replied, "My chalice 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."
3) REFLECTION
•
Jesus and the disciples are on the way to Jerusalem (Mt 20:17). Jesus knows
that He will be killed (Mt 20:8). The Prophet Isaiah had already announced it
(Is 50:4-6; 53:1-10). His death will not be the fruit of blind destiny or of a
pre-established plan, but it will be the consequence of the commitment freely
made of being faithful to the mission which He received from the Father
together with the poor of the earth. Jesus had already said that the disciple
has to follow the Master and carry his cross behind him (Mt 16:21,24). But the
disciples did not understand what was happening (Mt 16:22-23; 17:23). Suffering
and the cross did not correspond to the idea that they had of the Messiah.
•
Matthew 20:20-21: The petition of the mother of the sons of Zebedee. The
disciples do not only not understand, but they continue to think about
their personal ambitions. The mother of the sons of Zebedee, the spokesperson
for her sons John and James, gets close to Jesus to ask for a favor: “Promise
that these two sons of mine may sit one at Your right hand and the other at
Your left in Your Kingdom.”
They
had not understood Jesus’ proposal. They were concerned only about their
own interests. This shows clearly the tensions in the communities, both at the
time of Jesus and of Matthew, as we also see in our own communities.
•
Matthew 20:22-23: Jesus’ response. Jesus reacts firmly. He responds to the sons
and not to the mother: “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the
cup that I am going to drink?” It is a question of the chalice of suffering.
Jesus wants to know if they, instead of taking places of honor, are willing to
give their own life up to death. Both reply, “We can!” This was a sincere
response and Jesus confirms it: “You shall drink My cup.” At the same time, it
seems to be a hasty response, because a few days later, they abandon Jesus and
leave Him alone in His hour of suffering (Mt 26:51). They do not have a strong
critical conscience, and they are not even aware of their own personal reality.
Jesus then completes the statement, saying, “But it is not Mine to grant that
you sit at My right hand and My left, these seats belong to those to whom they
have been allotted by My Father.” What Jesus can offer is the chalice of the
suffering of the cross.
•
Matthew 20:24-27: “Among you this is not to happen.” “When the other ten heard
this, they were indignant with the two brothers.” The request made by the
mother in the name of her sons causes a heated discussion in the group. Jesus
calls the disciples and speaks to them about the exercise of power: “The rulers
of nations, you know, dominate over them and the great exercise their power
over them. Among you this is not to happen: anyone who wants to become great
among you must be your servant and anyone who wants to be first among you must
be your slave.” At that time, those who held power had no concern for the
people. They acted according to their own interests (cf. Mk 14:3-12). The Roman
Empire controlled the world, subduing it with the force of arms and, in this
way, through taxes, customs, etc. succeeded in accumulating riches through
repression and the abuse of power. Jesus had another response. He teaches
against privileges and against rivalry. He overthrows the system and insists on
the attitude of service, which is the remedy for personal ambition. The
community has to prepare an alternative. When the Roman Empire disintegrates,
victim of its own internal contradictions, the communities should be prepared
to offer to the people an alternative model of living together.
•
Matthew 20:28: The summary of the life of Jesus. Jesus defines His life and His
mission: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His
life as a ransom for many.” In this definition of self given by Jesus are
implied three titles which define Him and which were for the first Christians
the beginning of Christology: Son of Man, Servant of Yahweh and older brother
(close relative). Jesus is the Messiah, Servant, announced by the prophet
Isaiah (cf. Isa 42:1-9; 49:1-6; 50:4-9; 52:13-53). He learned from His mother,
who said, “Behold the servant of the Lord!” (Lk 1:38). This was a totally new
proposal for the society of that time.
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
•
James and John ask for favors. Jesus promises suffering. What do I seek in my
relationship with God and what do I ask for in prayer? How do I accept the
suffering that comes in my life and which is the opposite of what we ask in
prayer?
•
Jesus says, “May it not be like that among you!” Is our way of living in the
Church and in the community in accord with Jesus’ advice?
•
“Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant.” In this world, as
a boss, supervisor, department head, CEO, manager, or customer, how does “being
great” differ from this? Is it possible to be great as Jesus asks and be great
as the world understands it?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
Then
the nations kept saying,
“What
great deeds Yahweh has done for them!”
Yes,
Yahweh did great deeds for us,
and
we were overjoyed. (Ps 126:2-3)
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