Saint James, Apostle – Feast
Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28
In today’s Gospel, the request for places of honour leads Jesus to reveal the true meaning of discipleship. He asks James and John, “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” To follow Christ means sharing His cup: accepting the sacrifices, difficulties, and self-giving love that come with belonging to Him. But Jesus immediately connects this cup with service: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” The cup and the towel, sacrifice and service, therefore, belong together. We cannot desire closeness to Jesus while avoiding the path He chose, the path of giving oneself for others. Christian greatness is not measured by position, recognition, or authority, but by our willingness to place ourselves at the service of others, even when that service costs us something. Saint James the Great eventually understood this fully, becoming the first of the Apostles to give his life in martyrdom. Discipleship, drinking the cup, and becoming a servant are not three separate demands; they are one movement of love. The more closely we follow Christ, the more ready we become to share His cup and to make our lives a gift in service to others. Let’s reflect: Am I willing to follow Jesus fully by drinking His cup of self-giving love and allowing every sacrifice I make to become humble and generous service to others?
Don Giorgio