St. James the Greater the son of Zebedee was one of the twelve apostles given the mission to proclaim the good news, authority to heal and cast out demons, forgiveness of sins and the coming of the Reign of God by Jesus. James is known as the Greater because another younger apostle by the name James the Less. Together with his older brother John, both who were fisherman were called by Jesus to follow Him at the Lake of Genesaret while mending their nets. James and John left their boat and even their father behind, and followed Jesus who was already followed by Simon and Andrew.
1. When Jesus raised Jairus' daughter when all thought her dead, He only allowed James, John, and Peter be with Him.
2. When Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, he wanted James, John, and Peter to go with Him and this is where they were privileged to witness what no one else had seen, Jesus transfigured in His glory, speaking to Moses and Elijah, as the voice of God spoke from a cloud.
3. Together with Simon Peter, James and John were the only ones of the apostles that Jesus gave a special name "Boanerges," meaning Sons of Thunder.
4. James, Peter, and John that Jesus chose to join him in prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane for his final prayer before his arrest where all three of them fell asleep on this time of agony for Jesus.
In Acts of the Apostles 12:1 which tells us that James was one of the first martyrs of the Church who was beheaded with a sword by the order and trial of King Herod Agrippa 1 in an early persecution of the Church.
St. James the Greater feast day is celebrated on every 25 July annually. St. James is the patron saint of hatmakers, rheumatoid sufferers and laborers.
Thursday, 25 July, 2013
St. James the Greater, Apostle (Feast)
Reading
| 2 Corinthians 4: 7 - 15 | |
| 7 | But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. |
| 8 | We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; |
| 9 | persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; |
| 10 | always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. |
| 11 | For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. |
| 12 | So death is at work in us, but life in you. |
| 13 | Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, |
| 14 | knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. |
| 15 | For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. |
Psalm
| Psalms 126: 1 - 6 | |
| 1 | When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. |
| 2 | Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." |
| 3 | The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. |
| 4 | Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb! |
| 5 | May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! |
| 6 | He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. |
Gospel
| Matthew 20: 20 - 28 | |
| 20 | Then the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. |
| 21 | And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." |
| 22 | But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." |
| 23 | He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." |
| 24 | And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. |
| 25 | But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. |
| 26 | It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, |
| 27 | and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; |
| 28 | even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." |
Prayer
Saint James, pray for us
that we may be willing to leave everything
to follow Jesus as you did.
Help us to become special friends
of Jesus as you were.
Amen
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