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| “St. James the Elder” by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1861 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Commentary on 2 Cor 4:7-15
St. Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about suffering and death in the human existence of this life, in spite of living in the faith. The image he uses, fragile earthen pots, speaks of God’s instruments being easily broken but nonetheless effective. The image of small terracotta lamps in which light is carried is mentioned elsewhere. The point the evangelist makes contrasts our mortality with God’s omnipotence and power, our death in the flesh with life in the spirit of Christ. With such a spirit at work within us, we must, like St. Paul, spread that news to others (“…we too believe and therefore speak”).
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
R. (5) Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Commentary on Ps 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
Psalm 126 is a lament. In this short psalm, the singer rejoices at the return of Israel following the Diaspora, the conquering of Israel and its enslavement. In this hymn, the people remember the greatness of God as he restores their nation and brings them back to their own land ("Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves"). The sense is one of being overflowing with thanksgiving.
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Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28
Commentary on Mt 20:20-28
This exchange takes place immediately following the Lord's description of his coming passion in Jerusalem. The sons of Zebedee, James and John, are pushed forward by their mother who (naturally) wishes them to achieve places of honor in the Kingdom of God. Jesus uses this event to speak first of his own passion and then about Christian leadership. The Servant Leader, as Jesus describes, leads through example.
CCC: Mt 20:26 2235
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Reflection:
On this Feast Day, as we recall the inspired life of St. James, we reflect upon two aspects of the faith that motivated him and supported him. We think of them as the outward face of the evangelist, and the inward face of spirituality. They are of course interrelated, but one, the outward face, is giving; the other, the inward face, is seeking and receiving. It is, to use the Lord’s metaphor, like the vine. The outward face is the leaves and branches, reaching out into the world, producing great fruit to nourish others. The inward face is like the roots that support it, drinking in the earth’s nourishment sustaining the life in leaves and branches.
Using this metaphor, St. James was rooted in Christ. The Lord established him and nurtured him. Along with his brother, St. John
This outward and zealous face was supported by an interior spirituality rooted in the love of Christ and constant communion with him in prayer. We know that James was with Jesus at all of the important times: on the high place where the Lord was transfigured (Matthew 17: 1ff); with him praying in the Garden at Gethsemane (Matthew 26: 37). Along with St. Peter and his brother St. John
It was from this deep-rooted faith that he was able to draw the fire with which he enlightened those he met. It was through his inner peace that he was given the courage to face cruel martyrdom at the hands of Herod, the grandson of Herod the Great, four years after the Lord had charged him, with the others, to “go out and teach all the nations” (Matthew 28: 19).
One of the great lessons our consideration of this Apostle teaches is that we too must constantly tend to the inward face of our spirituality if we are to be effective evangelists and disciples of the Lord. Our care must be for that inward face, for without strength in the roots, the vine will wither and die.
Pax
In other years on this date: Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Year I)
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