July 25, 2013

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Feast of Saint James, Apostle 

Lectionary: 605

Reading 12 COR 4:7-15

Brothers and sisters:
We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,

This treasure is the grace of God.

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

Because it is God who justifies us of sin and saves us to eternal life.

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

There are many obstacles to living out one's faith in God.  But we must persevere.

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.

But we must die to ourselves and let Christ live in us.

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.

Jesus died that we might live.  He is the first fruits of the resurrection.  Because He was raised, we who believe in Him and live in Him will also be raised.

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.

And we must give thanks to God for so great a gift of His own life for our salvation.

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.

Scripture says: 

2 Corinthians 7:10

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Therefore, let us be sorry for our sins and repent and rejoice with God in the heavenly Jerusalem. 

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.”

The sons of Zebedee, also called the sons of Thunder, had a formidable father and mother.  Their mother,  out of love for her children, approached Christ and asked Him to set aside a place for her children at His right and at His left.  Thus showing that she understood that He is the Messiah of God.

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.”

Jesus turned to the brothers and challenged them, asking, "Can you drink of the chalice which I will drink?"  And they said that they could.  But He was not asking about a drink.  He was referring to the suffering which He would undergo in the Passion.

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.”

Then, still talking metaphorically, He agreed that they would also suffer as He did.  St. James would indeed become the first Apostle killed in the name of Jesus.

Acts 12:2  And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

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.”

When the rest of the Apostles heard that the Sons of Zebedee were attempting to guarantee for themselves a choice spot in heaven, they were upset.  But Jesus assured them that heaven is not like earth.  In heaven, the greater is the servant of the lesser.  To be great in heaven, one must be the servant.