Feast of James the Greater

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of James the Greater. James and John were sons of Zebedee. They were fishermen before Jesus called them. Without hesitation, they left everything behind, their trade and their father, to follow him (Mark 1:20). Because of their hot temper, Jesus named them "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). Once they were not received by Samaritan villagers, they asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to consume them (Luke 9:54). He was among the three special apostles present at special occasions in Jesus' ministry: raising Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37); the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2) and the Agony (Mark 14:33). He was also the first apostle martyr of the Jerusalem Church (Acts 12:1). Interestingly, his name does not appear in the gospel of John! Nevertheless, James must be fondly remembered for his passionate love for Jesus.
In today's reading of the gospel, we have the story of his mother requesting Jesus to give her two sons the honour of sitting on his left and right in his kingdom (Matthew 20:21). Mark also recorded the story, except that the request was not made by the mother but by the two brothers (Mark 10:35-45). Of course, it was not right to ask for advantages through familial relationship. (James and John were cousins of Jesus. Their mother was the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus.) This was blatant nepotism and should not be encouraged. Jesus did not discourage them. Instead, he took the opportunity to teach them the Christian meaning of authority: service for the disadvantaged. They would drink the cup of persecutions and give up their life for the service of the gospel.
even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).
In the second epistle St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he humbly admitted his lowly status as an instrument of God. He was only an earthen vessel. Any grandeur achieved belongs to God.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us (2 Corinthians 4:7).
He fervently embraced his life as a persecuted missionary for the good of his audience.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).
So death is at work in us, but life in you (2 Corinthians 4:12).
What an vehement speech! Yet these are no empty words but actual floggings, imprisonments and starvation. In this modern age, very few of us would need to suffer such heroic persecutions. We have to fight our battle in a different front: the commercialized mass media and the extensive indifference on the part of our audience. The battle is different. Yet, we need the same spirit of faith as that of St. Paul.
Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke, ἐπίστευσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα " we too believe, and so we speak (2 Corinthians 4:13).
Paul quoted out of context a psalm by David.
Αλληλουια. Ἐπίστευσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα, ἐγὼ δὲ ἐταπεινώθην σφόδρα. (Ps 115:1, 116:10 MT)
It is the faith in God that enables St. Paul to work so hard even in face of harsh persecutions. Nowadays, our witness for Jesus pales in comparison with Paul's. Our faith is too weak. We are easily discouraged by very minor failures.

My dear Advocate, we have not loved You passionately enough and our faith is too fragile. Enkindle our hearts and help us believe more. St. James, pray for us so that we may love our Lord Jesus as fervently as you did. Amen.