SAINT OF THE DAY – July 25, 2023 REFLECTION
“Be like the Son of Man who has come, not to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many.” (Mt 20:28)
Today is the feast of Saint James the Apostle. His life is a testimony to what each of us can become if we decide to follow Jesus with all our minds, hearts, and souls. James was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the brother of John. The brothers were fishermen by trade, and it was by the lake of Galilee that he and his brother together with Simon Peter and his brother Andrew would first be invited by Jesus to follow him. (Mt 4:18) James and John were called by Jesus “Sons of Thunder,” meaning they had fiery tempers, as seen, for example, when they attempted to enter the village of Samaria where Jesus was not welcome. (Lk 9:51-56) They threatened to call down fire from heaven to burn the village, but Jesus rebuked them.
James is one of the three apostles that witnessed Jesus’ Transfiguration. At this point he does not yet understand the mission of our Lord. So in today’s gospel, James and John through their mother ask to be seated at the left and right hand of Jesus when he comes into his glory. Jesus rebukes the brothers and tells them that the standards of heaven differ very much from their (and our) standards here on earth.
In the Kingdom of God, it is the leaders that serve the multitude. James had to learn to die to himself first in order to serve in God’s kingdom. It is a lesson he took to heart because he witnessed our Lord’s suffering from Gethsemane to the crucifixion. This understanding would lead James to preach the gospel passionately and to eventually become the first of Jesus’ apostles to be martyred by having his head cut off. (Acts 12:1-2)
We will probably not have to be martyred to spread the Gospel, but we can all learn from the example of Saint James: to die to ourselves, to keep our tempers in check, to not go after power and riches but rather to learn to serve in both small and big ways, to make sacrifices so that others can have better lives. We too can each serve and give our lives to redeem many.
The above reflection is published with the
permission of the author, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Monastery Icons image of Saint James the Greater is used for non-commercial purposes and according to the principles of fair use.
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