It's Okay to Ask
Jul 25: Feast of Saint James, Apostle
Despite belonging to the inner circle of the Apostles (he witnesses the cure of Peter’s mother-in-law, the raising of Jairus’ daughter, Jesus’ Transfiguration, and His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane), James “the Greater” is denied a position of glory at Jesus’ right hand. That’s because we don’t earn that kind of honor through our own work, but by God’s grace.
Reading 1
2 Cor 4:7-15
Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; 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.
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. 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.
Even though we are limited, we still work in Christ, with His help. Even in death and despair, we’re united with Him in the crucifixion. In the end, we’ll be re-united with Him in heaven.
If we didn’t believe in the latter, there’d be no point in going through the former.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
R. 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.
God brought the Israelites back from exile, but that couldn’t be the end of it. They still need rain to grow crops.
God’s salvation isn’t a one-time thing! It’s continuous. And sometimes, it’s not always clear that the suffering we’re going through now is part of the larger salvific plan later. But our tears won’t be for nothing; we sow with tears, and we’ll reap with rejoicing, in this life or the next.
Alleluia
See Jn 15:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Grace begins with God’s offer; we have to accept it and spread it.
Gospel
Mt 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."
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."
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."
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."
James and John’s mother, like any good mother, wants what’s best for her sons. You can’t really blame her for asking a favor of Jesus.
Thus it’s understandable that Jesus is patient. He doesn’t actually tell her what it means to drink from his chalice. Yet.
James will eventually be executed by Herod.1 He’s the first of the twelve to martyred (probably because his “fiery” personality got him into trouble). And despite this ignominious end, Jesus is right—James is now regarded as one of the greatest saints.