Today we celebrate a very important feast in the early history of the Church: the martyrdom of St. James the Greater (as distinguished from the other apostle who bore the same name).
James was the older brother of John - who were both sons of Zebedee. Their mother may have been the sister of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which would have made them Jesus' first cousins.
James and John along with Peter became Jesus' closest disciples. But their preferential treatment was not just sentimental on the part of Jesus – he was preparing them for what they would later encounter as Apostles and builders of the early Church. They were present at the raising of Jarius' daughter – giving them a deeper insight into Jesus power over death; they were present when some Samaritan townspeople refused to accept Jesus' message and James and John wanted to call down lightning from heaven to destroy them (they were fierce and loyal followers of Jesus); they were all three present on the Mount of the Transfiguration when Jesus displayed his true glory – the glory that would come in full force at the other end of his brutal death, by means of a glorious resurrection!
This privilege was given them so they could strengthen their brothers when those events started to unfold. And it would be something for them to remember years later when the road began to get very rough and the Church was mercilessly persecuted by the Romans.
These three also slept in the garden when Jesus asked them to please watch with him and pray for themselves while he prayed to his Father in heaven – committing himself fully to the events of the next day!
But after Jesus did in fact die, rise and ascend into heaven; and after the coming of the Holy Spirit with power and energy – these three and the rest of the eleven went forth to preach the good news of salvation beginning first in Jerusalem. It was, in fact, not until James, whose feast we celebrate today was killed in the persecution of King Herod Agrippa that the Apostles then went forth far and wide to do their work. Some one of them had to be first! Some one of them had to lay it all on the line! Some one of them had to give supreme credence and affirmation to the whole new Way of Life that Jesus their best friend, Lord and Savior established. James indeed was the first to "drink the very cup of the Lord" as Jesus promised he would!
The blood of the martyrs is the true cement which binds together the spiritual stones of the building of Christ which is the Church!
The first reading today reminds us - that all of us – whether we are called to red martyrdom, white martyrdom or just a life filled with ordinary ups and downs – are called to unite all of our discomforts, sorrows, pains, sufferings, trials and tribulations with the Passion of Jesus – bearing in our bodies the dying of Jesus! And he will transform them by his grace into the newness of life that is a share in his Resurrection!
I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord. Let us say to him in return on this day, with the prayers of St. James on our behalf: "we will go, we will bear fruit because we know that in you our tears shall reap rejoicing!"
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