My dear brothers and sisters,
Today is the feast day of my patron saint — St. James the Apostle. The Church has asked us to reflect on the event of Matthew 20:20-28. This passage tells us about a mother’s request to Jesus, seeking positions of honour for her two sons in His kingdom. The response of Jesus to this request carries profound wisdom and insight into the nature of true discipleship.
In this Gospel reading, we encounter a mother who approaches Jesus with great ambition for her sons, James and John. She kneels before Him and asks, “Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.” The request shows a desire for prominence and power, a yearning to be exalted above others. It is a request that seems to echo the world’s understanding of success and greatness.
However, Jesus, in His divine wisdom, responds to this request with a lesson that contrasts the world’s values. He says, “You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” Here, Jesus refers to the cup of suffering that He will drink on the cross, the ultimate act of self-sacrifice for the redemption of humanity. He then continues, “No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In these words, Jesus reveals the heart of true discipleship – a path of humble service and selflessness. He shatters the worldly notion of greatness, where people seek to climb over others to achieve personal ambitions. Instead, Jesus invites us to embrace a different model of greatness – greatness through service, compassion, and sacrificial love.
Understanding The Mission
Saint James, the Apostle whose feast we celebrate today, eventually understood and embraced this lesson wholeheartedly. He followed Jesus, witnessed His passion, and later became one of the early Christian martyrs. Like his brother St. John, he was willing to drink from the same cup of suffering and self-sacrifice, imitating Christ in the truest sense.
As we commemorate the life of St. James, let us ask ourselves whether we are ready to embrace the call of true discipleship. Are we willing to put aside our desires for personal gain and power, and instead, seek opportunities to serve and uplift others? Are we ready to drink from the cup of self-sacrifice and love, just as Jesus did for us on the cross?
Let the feast of St. James be a reminder that following Christ requires a change of heart and a transformation of our values. Let us also pray for the grace to walk in the footsteps of St. James and all the saints who have gone before us. May their example inspire us to become selfless servants of God and instruments of His love in the world.
May St. James, the Apostle, intercede for us and guide us on our journey of discipleship. And may the Lord grant us the courage to take up our cross daily, as we follow Christ, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
Happy feast day to me and all James‘
