Thomas Lima csc –
Readings: 2 Cor 4:7-15; Mt 20:20-28
Today the church celebrates the feast of St. James, who responded to the call of Jesus zealously, leaving his father and all that he had without any delay. He became the first apostle to win the crown of martyrdom and his death is recorded in the New Testament.
Today’s gospel reading brings before us something appreciable about James and his brother John. They had firm faith in Jesus and his kingdom. They were wrong in their ambition, but they were right about Jesus himself. They understood him as the true Messiah who had come to rule over the works and lives of people.
They understood that greatness is accepting the challenge because one loves the Lord and is willing to share in his suffering and death no matter the cost. James and John drank the cup of suffering. James was the first apostle to drink the cup of martyrdom. He was killed by Herod. May St. James who shared in the suffering and death of Jesus continue to inspire us to share our lives with others: limit our rights for others, reform our habits for others deny our preferences for them and change our lives for others.