SAINT JAMES THE GREATER

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




Ps 7-25-18