July 25, Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of Saint James, Apostle
Daily Readings: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Matthew 20:20-28
The Church celebrates the feast of St. James the Greater, one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus Christ. St. James, one of the earliest disciples, was part of Jesus' inner circle along with his brothers John and Peter.
Following Jesus’ ascension, St. James became a prominent leader in the early Christian community in Jerusalem. His unwavering faith and ultimate martyrdom stand as a testament to his dedication to Christ.
Today’s gospel invites us to re-evaluate our concepts of leadership, power, and service. The wife of Zebedee approaches Jesus with a request for her sons, James and John, to receive places of honor in His kingdom.
Jesus’ response, however, is unexpected. He neither grants the request nor rebukes them but instead imparts a profound lesson on the essence of true greatness.
Jesus teaches that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. This paradox is central to Christian living. It’s understandable why James and John might have felt entitled to special treatment; their proximity to Jesus throughout His ministry and their witnessing of His miracles likely fostered such expectations.
Yet, Jesus redefines greatness, emphasizing that it is not determined by position or prestige, but by humility and service. His leadership is marked by humility, compassion, and self-giving love.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Lord, grant us the humility and generosity of heart to serve others with love and compassion. May we be faithful disciples and witnesses of Your love.
Let us ask for the grace to proclaim Your love on earth every day through our lives. Amen.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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