Daily Readings, July 25

July 25, 2012

Feast of Saint James, apostle 

St. James the Greater is the brother of St. John.  He is one of the three, along with St. John and St. Peter, that Jesus took to the top of the mount Tabor in the Transfiguration.  He was martyred for the faith when 

Acts 22:

[1] And at the same time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church. [2] And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

Reading 1-  2 Cor 4:7-15

Brothers and sisters:

St. Paul addresses the faithful of Corinth.

We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,

Earthen vessels- our bodies.

Treasure- The Gospel, the ministry of the Word

that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.

Surpassing power- the Grace of God, justification, union with God.

The grace of God which is bestowed upon those who believe the Gospel preached to them by the Apostles.

We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed;

They are continually persecuted for preaching the Gospel.  They continually suffer for the Church.

always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,

Thus they, the Apostles and their disciples, imitate our Lord and carry His Cross.  We can compare this to Col 1:24 wherein St. Paul says:

Colossians 1:24

King James Version (KJV)

²⁴ Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.

Thus, they have become like unto Christ.  Christ gave His life for us.  And they, in turn, give their lives up for us as well.  Again, we can compare to other Scriptures:

1 Peter 2:21

King James Version (KJV)

²¹ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

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.

Again, we compare:

Galatians 2:20

King James Version (KJV)

²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

We become like unto Christ.  Giving our lives for those we love:

John 15:13

King James Version (KJV)

¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Christ died that we might live.  Therefore the Apostles gave up their lives for the life of the Church.  The Body of Christ.

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

Therefore, we have faith that God who raised Jesus from the dead, will raise up His Body, the Church of believers from the dead also.

and place us with you in his presence.

So that we may all be in His presence, together.

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.

Everything is for us, the Church, so that the more people in the Church, the greater thanksgiving will redound to the glory of our Lord, who gave His only begotten Son that we might live.

Responsorial Psalm-  Ps 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6

Response. (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.

Gospel- Mt 20:20-28

The mother of the sons of Zebedee 

This is Jesus' cousin, Salome, the mother of James and John.  Who herself is the daughter of Jesus aunt, the other Mary, which the Protestants mistake for Our Lady.   We can determine this from nother Scriptures:

Matthew 27:56

King James Version (KJV)

⁵⁶ Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children.

Mark 15:40

King James Version (KJV)

⁴⁰ There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

Notice how Salome is the mother of Zebedee's children, that is, James and John.

Mark 10:35

King James Version (KJV)

³⁵ And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

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."

Obviously, they could not sit at His right and left hand, because the seat at His right is reserved for His mother.

Revelation 12:1

King James Version (KJV)

1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

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."

The Chalice which they will drink is that Chalice or Baptism of blood which St. Paul is referring to in the previous reading.  It is to suffer for the Body of Christ, the Church, to the point of death.

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.

Have you ever heard it said that Catholic Priests are the servants of the servants of God.  This is where that saying comes from.  Jesus Christ here confirms the ministerial priesthood.  

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."

Have you ever heard it said that the Priests are in "Persona Christi"?  Again, this is one of the places it is confirmed.   The Priests are the servants of the servants of God because they are imitating Jesus Christ.  They have given their life for the Church.  As Scripture says elsewhere:

Ephesians 5:25

King James Version (KJV)

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;


This is why it is also said that Priests are married to the Church.


Sincerely,


De Maria