The Apostle James

Homily for the Feast of St. James

Both the Gospels of St. Mark and the St. Matthew record the request that James and John sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in His kingdom. The account that we read today comes from the Gospel of St. Matthew and places the request in the mouth of their mother, Salome. St. Mark makes no mention of the mother of James and John as the source of this request. Salome is traditionally regarded as the sister of the Blessed Mother. Consequently, both James and John are referred to as the cousins of Jesus. It is important to note here that Salome is one of the women who stands at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified.

It matters not what brought about the request nor whether it was asked of Jesus by the apostles themselves or by their mother. The importance of this request is the fact that it highlights one of the most important themes of the Gospels; namely, greatness lies not in power but in serving the needs of others.

The treasure of which St. Paul writes in the Second Letter to the Corinthians refers to the Gospel itself. The reference to earthen vessels identifies the evangelists themselves, frail human beings who carry within themselves the glory which they preach and into which they are being transformed. St. Paul catalogs the various difficulties that he experienced because of his preaching. While his detractors would point to these difficulties as evidence that his preaching was false, St. Paul counters that argument by asserting that in these difficulties there is always an experience of rescue or salvation. Just as Jesus was glorified by his Father because of his obedience to the Father’s will, St. Paul and his fellow apostles carry about within themselves the same glory which lies hidden but is revealed after their deaths.

St. James was the first of the apostles to be martyred. In the Acts of the Apostles, we are told that James was put to the sword by the order of Herod Agrippa. Consequently, the church esteems St. James for the witness that he brings through his death. The early Christian community held St. James in esteem and earned him the name of St. James the Just by the Jewish Christians of Jerusalem. St. James is regarded as the leader of the Jerusalem church and is recognized as one of the three pillars of Christianity who witnessed the raising of the daughter of Jairus, the Transfiguration of Jesus, and the Agony in the Garden.

Today, our regard for St. James as the leader of the Jerusalem church and as the first martyr among the apostles is still a source of great witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. July 25 is regarded as the date of his martyrdom and has, therefore, become the day on which we remember this great apostle and leader within the early Christian community.