SAINT JAMES

JAMES THE GREATER

James the Greater

Was a son of Zebedee

Was an Apostle

And together

With his brother John

Were called “sons of thunder”

“Going on from there

He saw two other brothers

James-son of Zebedee

And his brother John

They were in a boat

With their father Zebedee

Preparing their nets

Jesus called them

And immediately

They left their boat

And their father

And followed him”                                                                Matthew 4:21-22

Thus James

Was an original Apostle

We know that James

Along with Peter

And his brother John

Were present at the Transfiguration

“After six days

Jesus took with him

Peter, James and John-the brother of James

And led them up to a high mountain

By themselves”                                                                             Matthew 17:1

There they saw Jesus

Talking with Moses and Elijah

And we know

That James and John were so presumptuous

SO HUMAN
That they asked for their spot

In the kingdom

“Teacher,” they said,

“We want you to do for us

Whatever we ask”

“What do you want me to do

For you,” Jesus asked

They replied

“Let one of us

Sit at the right

And the other at your left

In your glory”

And Jesus told them,

“Whoever wants to become great

Among you

Must be a servant

And whoever wants to be first

Must be slave to all”                                                 Matthew 10:35-44

In other words

They have to prove themselves first

As we too

Must prove ourselves

To be a servant of God

He was the first Apostle

To die for the Christian faith

Legend has it

That he preached the Gospel in Spain

After the Resurrection

That is why today

He is the patron Saint of Spain

He was put to death by the sword

By King Herod

So today-his feast today

We pray Dear Lord

That we prove ourselves just like Saint James

Only NOT by dying

For the faith

But by LIVING for it

Robert P. Wallman

7-25-12