Feast of Saint James the Apostle

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 45 Mistakes in the Oratory

Mass: 2 Cor 4:7-15; Resp Ps 126; Mt 20:20-28

The Lord has done great things for us.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR 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 always be manifested in our body.

(2 Cor 4:8-10)

Welcome to Monday, our favorite day of the week. And we are off to a rousing start with the commemoration of Saint James the Apostle, brother of John, both sons of Zebedee. These two, along with their father, were busy mending their fishing nets when Jesus called them. Then they got busy with something else; they immediately left their boat and followed Jesus (Mt 4:21-22). It is their mother who gets involved in today's Gospel. She goes to Jesus, with James and John at her side, and did Him homage. Then she gets to the point: "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom" (Mt 20:21). She wanted what was best for your sons, not unlike most mothers. However, did she know what she was asking? Jesus questioned her about it, then, replied with a question of His own: Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink? (Mt 20:22). It is a good question for all of us to reflect upon. The chalice of suffering we are asked to drink, the crosses that we asked to carry are not ones we would have expected. We are, like Saint Paul, afflicted, constrained, persecuted, struck down and so on. We are disciples of Jesus, however, and know that in order to be His disciple, we must pick up our crosses and carry them. Jesus did; He leads the way. In our hearts, we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us, together, in His presence, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God (2 Cor 4:14-15). United, with the same spirit of faith (2 Cor 4:12), we go forth and continue to pray for the Holy Father on "penitential pilgrimage" in Canada. For his health and well-being, and for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the people of Canada.

They drank the chalice of the Lord, and became the friends of God.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

SAINT JAMES THE APOSTLE,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: We learned last Saturday that Saint Bridget of Sweden and her husband Ulf went on pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint James at Compostela, Spain, in the 14th century. These two, dear women went on pilgrimage to the same shrine in the 21st century. United in faith and prayer, they were pilgrims on El Camino. United in the same faith and prayer, we are all pilgrims on the journey, in all places, and in all times. O, the beauty of our faith tradition. They shall come back rejoicing.

© Gertrude Feick 2022