Saturday of the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

St. James is one of my favorite saints and is my favorite apostle. The parish I grew up in was St. James Church in Washington, Iowa. It also has a parochial school, St. James Elementary. I went to school there for all my elementary education. Needless to say, I’ve been friends with St. James for a long time.

St. James is a good saint to know. He is one of the sons of Zebedee. John is the other. They are also the Sons of Thunder, as Jesus declared them. James came to serve in Jesus’ trusted inner circle. James was also present for the important events in Jesus’ ministry, from His travels all the way to the Last Supper and the Easter events.

James and John would go on to take totally opposite paths on their apostolic journeys. John would write the Fourth Gospel and live on the Island of Patmos. James would travel all the way to Spain in preaching the Gospel. He went farther than St. Paul did on his preaching missions. He really was a “heavy-hitter” as far as Apostles go.

It is funny to recount today’s Gospel passage. I almost feel embarrassed for James and John when their mother asks Jesus that her sons will sit “on his right and on his left” in His coming kingdom. It’s like if your mother came to your job and asked your boss to give you a promotion! Jesus responds by asking if they (James and John) can drink the chalice that He will drink. This chalice will be of His passion. Think about that term. A chalice is a communal cup. It is not a cup to be drunk alone. That is why we use the word “chalice” in Mass instead of “cup.” What follows is that the other ten disciples become indignant at James and John. Jesus warns them not to lord their authority over each other as the Gentiles do. They are meant to stand together in equal solidarity. James would go on to drink Christ’s chalice as he was eventually martyred in Jerusalem. He now does have a place at the Lord’s side as he is honored as an Apostle with the entire respect due to one. He had to be willing to give his life to gain this honor. He gave all he had.

Reflection: Can you bear to drink from the Lord’s chalice? What sacrifices are you called to make that you may be struggling with?

Reflection by Br. Matthew Marie, OSB