A Homily for the Feast of Saint James, Apostle
Thursday July 25, 2024
Prince of Peace Catholic Church – 8:00 Mass
2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Psalm 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6; Matthew 20:20-28
Audio Recording
Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint James, Apostle. While the Twelve Apostles included two named James, today we honor James the Greater, the brother of John, the Gospel writer. James and his brother John, the Gospel writer, clearly had a special place in Jesus’ heart.
The Gospels record that Peter, James, and John were present at three momentous events that the other Apostles were not. They were with Jesus when He cured Jairus’ daughter and they were with Him at the Transfiguration. They were also present during Christ’s Agony in the Garden.
In Matthew’s Gospel today, the mother of James and John requests on behalf of her sons that they be granted the privilege of sitting at Jesus’ right hand in His kingdom. While you might argue that this bold request was courageous and demonstrated their passion for serving the Lord, we learn that it was perceived by the other apostles as a self-centered grab for power and authority. Mark says that “When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers..” They weren’t happy about it.
Jesus then puts it all into his perspective when he teaches them, “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. I’ll bet they didn’t expect that response to their request! It seems that they were thinking about ruling others, not serving them.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, greatness in Christ’s kingdom comes to those who dedicate themselves to serving their brothers and sisters. Jesus himself was the living example of this. He, the Son of God, came to serve not to be served.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus also asks James if he can drink the chalice Jesus will drink. Here he is referring to his suffering and death. James and John both say that they can drink of this chalice and Jesus affirms that they will do so.
While John was never actually killed for his faith, James was the first of the Apostles to be martyred when he was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa in the year 44, and was the only whose death is recorded in scripture.
While those of us here today most likely won’t be asked to become martyrs for Christ as James was, we are certainly called to lay down our lives in other ways for Christ. We must do whatever we can to serve others in their need.
Take some time today to think about what Christ might be calling YOU to do in service of others. Perhaps he’s asking you to visit someone in the hospital or assisted living facility. Maybe he’s asking you to bring communion to them as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.
If you are physically able, maybe he’s asking that you get involved with Our Lady’s Food Pantry, or Nearly New, or the Emergency Squad here in town. Perhaps there’s a ministry in the parish that you’ve been thinking about joining. God knows where He needs us and today would be a good day to pray about how we can become better servants for Christ to those in need. There are so many opportunities to serve in this wonderful community of ours, as there are in every community throughout the world. Wherever you live, there is something God needs you to do for him.
Through the intercession of St James the Greater may we learn and respond to Jesus’ lesson of love and follow Him by living lives of love and sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. This, indeed, is true greatness.
St. James, pray for us. Amen.