Jul 25 - St James the Apostle

+ Among the twelve Apostles, three were chosen as the familiar companions of Jesus, and of these James was one. He alone, with Peter and John (the Evangelist, his brother), was admitted to the house of Jarius when the dead maiden was raised to life. They alone were taken up to the high mountain apart and saw the face of Jesus shining as the sun, and His garments white as snow; and these three alone witnessed the fearful agony in Gethsemane.

What was it that won James a place among the favorite three? It was faith: burning, impetuous, and outspoken, but which needed purifying before the "Son of Thunder" could proclaim the gospel of peace. It was James who demanded fire from heaven to consume the inhospitable Samaritans, and who sought the place of honor by Christ in His Kingdom. Yet Our Lord, in rebuking his presumption, prophesied his faithfulness to death.

When St. James was brought before King Herod Agrippa, his fearless confession of Jesus crucified so moved the public prosecutor that he declared himself a Christian on the spot. And so, accused and accuser were hurried off together to execution, and on the road the latter begged pardon of the Saint. The apostle had long since forgiven him but hesitated for a moment whether publicly to accept as a brother one still unbaptized. God quickly recalled to him the Church's belief that the blood of martyrdom supplies for every sacrament, and he embraced him with the words, "Peace be with you!" Together then they knelt for the sword, and together received the crown.

Remembering that we carry the work of Christ and his Church in us as very human, earthly and fragile vessels of our broken selves – we rely with St. James, and all the Apostles and countless numbers of Christians since the very beginning that God will supply our lack and our want and work through us – and that in the end we will receive the exact reward that befits our humble, loyal and loving service to the King of heaven and earth!

In the gospel passage Jesus loves James and his brother John’s impetuousness and enthusiasm – because it was rightly channeled – but he tells them that this will go far when they will go all the way, speak out and act out their core-based belief and trust in their Lord, Messiah and Best Friend, Jesus. And it was James who was the first of the 12 to die a martyr’s death in imitation of Jesus.

We are called to likewise go all the way, by word and deed for Jesus today, now – for there is still much work to be done before the inauguration of the fullness of the kingdom, that actually could take place at any time.

I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.