St.James,Apostle Mt 20,20-28

In an excerpt from Matthew’s Gospel for today’s feast of St. We can find many lessons from Jacob. However, I will limit myself to emphasizing only one, which concerns the mystery of God’s providence, which applies to the whole creation, and which also includes the mystery of election.

When the mother of Zebedee’s sons asks that her sons sit in the kingdom of God on the right and left of Jesus, that is, in the most important places, Jesus answers: “You do not know what you are asking.” (Matthew 20:22). And he makes them aware that sitting in his immediate vicinity is intended for the team for whom his Father has prepared it: “It is not mine to give someone to sit on my right hand or on my left; it belongs to those for whom my Father has prepared it.'” God decides, that is, God changes, or directs. If it were not so, God would not be God, who has everything in his power. At the same time,

man should respond with humble acknowledgment of God’s omnipotence, because God has revealed himself as a Father who loves his children and does what he does for their good prominent places, because his heart will be filled with God.  

Today’s saint, Saint James, died as the first of the apostles, and that was by beheading. It is written about in the Acts of the Apostles 12,1-3: “(Herod) killed John’s brother James with the sword.” Tradition says that when Jerusalem was conquered by the Arabs, his body was taken to Santiago de Compostela. Until now, this city in Spain is one of the largest and most famous places of pilgrimage, known for its many miracles. St. John Chrysostom about St. He writes to Jakub. “St. James did not live long: that is because from the beginning he burned with great zeal, despised all human things, and climbed to such unspeakable heights that he immediately died”.

Do I not also desire the leading places and the glory of the world? ▪ Many travel to St. Jakub to Santiago. Are pilgrimages to places of pilgrimage also part of my life of faith? ▪ What does it mean to be a servant of others? No theatrical gestures, no religious declarations. If we wanted to translate Jesus’ call to be servants, we could say that it is freedom from selfishness and attention to the needs of others. Today is also an opportunity to make progress in this matter…