Christ the Cornerstone

Go the extra mile in love and service

The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mt 20:28)

On July 25, the Church invites us to celebrate the Feast of St. James. This Apostle is called “James the Greater” to distinguish him from another Apostle of the same name.

The James whose feast we celebrate tomorrow was a member of Jesus’ inner circle. He joined St. Peter and St. John in witnessing the Transfiguration of the Lord. In addition, he was present for the cure of Peter’s mother-in-law, the raising of Jairus’ daughter, and Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane—key moments in the life and ministry of Jesus.

We must be careful not to assume that his being called “greater” means that he was “better than” or “more important than” the other Apostles, especially the other James who is identified in all the Synoptic Gospels as “the son of Alphaeus” or “James the Lesser.” To make this assumption would be to misunderstand what Jesus says in the Gospel reading for tomorrow’s feast day (Mt 20:20-28).

St. Matthew quotes Jesus as saying that only God the Father can bestow honor or distinction on the followers of his Son. This God-given recognition only happens as a result of the disciple’s willingness to empty himself or herself of all worldly ambition, to “drink the chalice” of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection. As St. Matthew says:

The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” (Mt 20:23)

Unselfishness, self-sacrificing love, and genuine service are what distinguishes the missionary disciples of Jesus Christ from other people. These qualities are what make us holy and what crown us with the telltale mark of humility that characterizes true followers of Jesus Christ.

St. Matthew reports that Jesus used this occasion to help his followers better understand what he was calling them to do:

When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt 20:24-28)

James, the son of Zebedee, was not destined for worldly greatness or social status. He was called to “go the extra mile” in love and service and then to give his life as a martyr for sake of his belief in the holy name of Jesus.

The Acts of the Apostles (Acts 12:2) records that “Herod the king” (officially Herod Agrippa) had James executed “by the sword” in AD 44, and tradition suggests that he was the second Apostle to die after Judas Iscariot and the first to be martyred.

Tradition also suggests that after the ascension of Jesus, when the Apostles were sent out to preach the Gospel, the Apostle James crossed the Mediterranean Sea, reaching the region then known as Hispania (now Spain and Portugal). Biblical scholars question the historical accuracy of these accounts, but the fact is that early on in Christian history the Apostle James, the son of Zebedee, became the patron saint of Spain, and according to tradition, what are believed to be his remains are held in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.

Each year, thousands of pilgrims follow the Way of St. James, which leads to the shrine of James the Greater in Santiago de Compostela. Since the ninth century, this has been the final destination of this major Catholic pilgrimage route.

St. James responded to the Lord’s call by immediately setting aside his daily work and by devoting himself to the proclamation of God’s Word. May we follow his example and distinguish ourselves by our humble service. †