Today we celebrate the Feast of St. James, the Apostle. He was the son of Zebedee the fisherman and Salome, the sister/cousin of Jesus’ mother, and the brother of John, the Evangelist and Apostle.
St. James was one of Jesus’ inner circle of three disciples who had the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration, the raising of the daughter of Jairus, and Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane. He is in the first three of every list of the Apostles in the four Gospels. Jesus called James and John “boanerges,” or “sons of thunder,” probably because of their volatile character and high ambitions. They once offered to use Jesus power to send fire down on a Samaritan village which had refused Jesus permission to cross through their village because he was going to Jerusalem. Jesus rejected the offer.
Later, St. James was known as “James the Greater” to distinguish him from “James the Less,” the son of Clopas, who was leader of the Church in Jerusalem and who wrote the Epistle that bears his name. The St. James we celebrate today was probably the first Apostle martyred — by Herod in 44 AD. (Acts 12, 1-3)
Our essential “vocation” as followers of the Lord is always touched and influenced by the vocation of the Apostles. They have led the way in serving sacrificially, with agápe (self-giving) love in all humility, without expecting anything in return. The Apostles remain our spiritual leaders, guiding us along the way of humble and selfless service. And they followed the example of Jesus – who loved and served us all.
Let us pray. “Help us, O Lord, through the intercession of your Apostle St. James. Strengthen us by his profession of faith, sustain us by his protection, and give us courage to follow his example. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
