Wantei Warlaitthma csc –
Readings: 2 Cor 4: 7-15; Mt 20: 20-28
Today, the Mother Church celebrates the Feast of St. James the Apostle. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome and the brother of John the Apostle. He was one of the three great Apostles – Peter, James, and John. James had the privilege of witnessing Jesus’ Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.
St. James was the first apostle to be martyred, beheaded by the order of King Herod Agrippa I of Judea around 44 AD in Jerusalem. What made St. James holy was his understanding of truelove: laying down his life so that others might believe and be strengthened in following the footsteps of Jesus.
The gospel of the day reminds us that we are not called to be served but to serve, by laying down our lives as Jesus did for us. Are we ready to lay down our lives and serve others as Jesus did? As disciples of Jesus, we must be prepared to accept both the small and significant sacrifices required of us each day. Jesus understood that his greatness required him to be the least of all. If we are to imitate him in his greatness, we must also imitate him in placing ourselves at the service of others.
To serve others worthily and effectively, we must master ourselves and possess the virtues that enable this mastery. Jesus still invites us to share in his sufferings and to walk the way of the cross with those who bear it today.