july 25, 2006
Feast of Saint James, Apostle
2 Cor 4:7-15 Brothers and sisters:We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair;persecuted, but not abandoned;struck down, but not destroyed;always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,we too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.
Responsorial PsalmPs 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6R. (5) Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,we were like men dreaming.Then our mouth was filled with laughter,and our tongue with rejoicing. R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.Then they said among the nations,“The LORD has done great things for them.”The LORD has done great things for us;we are glad indeed.R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.Restore our fortunes, O LORD,like the torrents in the southern desert.Those that sow in tearsshall reap rejoicing.R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.Although they go forth weeping,carrying the seed to be sown,They shall come back rejoicing,carrying their sheaves. R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. Reading II
Eph 2:13-18
Brothers and sisters:
In Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he who made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Mt 20:20-28 The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sonsand did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her,“What do you wish?” She answered him,“Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.”Jesus said in reply,“You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied,“My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”When the ten heard this,they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said,“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
There is a request by the mother of James and John for special places in heaven for her sons. Jesus teaches that it is not for Jesus to give this. The other disciples were angered by the desire of the brothers to be treated with distinctive honors rather than to simply be disciples. Jesus teaches that it is required to serve and this is the most respected position for all. Jesus is the teacher and example to the point of serving by giving his life for us. Seeking honors is a way to go off of the path of the will of God.
The first reading reminds Christians that they carry the body of the dying Christ in their own bodies which are earthen vessels filled with this treasure of the heart and soul.
The prologue of the Rule of St Benedict:
LI S T E N carefully, my child,to your master's precepts,and incline the ear of your heart (Prov. 4:20).Receive willingly and carry out effectively your loving father's advice, that by the labor of obedience you may return to Him from whom you had departed by the sloth of disobedience.
To you, therefore, my words are now addressed, whoever you may be, who are renouncing your own will to do battle under the Lord Christ, the true King, and are taking up the strong, bright weapons of obedience.
And first of all, whatever good work you begin to do, beg of Him with most earnest prayer to perfect it, that He who has now deigned to count us among His childrenmay not at any time be grieved by our evil deeds. For we must always so serve Him with the good things He has given us, that He will never as an angry Father disinherit His children, nor ever as a dread Lord, provoked by our evil actions, deliver us to everlasting punishment
2 Cor 4:7-15 Brothers and sisters:We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair;persecuted, but not abandoned;struck down, but not destroyed;always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,we too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.
Responsorial PsalmPs 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6R. (5) Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,we were like men dreaming.Then our mouth was filled with laughter,and our tongue with rejoicing. R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.Then they said among the nations,“The LORD has done great things for them.”The LORD has done great things for us;we are glad indeed.R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.Restore our fortunes, O LORD,like the torrents in the southern desert.Those that sow in tearsshall reap rejoicing.R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.Although they go forth weeping,carrying the seed to be sown,They shall come back rejoicing,carrying their sheaves. R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. Reading II
Eph 2:13-18
Brothers and sisters:
In Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he who made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Mt 20:20-28 The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sonsand did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her,“What do you wish?” She answered him,“Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.”Jesus said in reply,“You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied,“My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”When the ten heard this,they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said,“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
There is a request by the mother of James and John for special places in heaven for her sons. Jesus teaches that it is not for Jesus to give this. The other disciples were angered by the desire of the brothers to be treated with distinctive honors rather than to simply be disciples. Jesus teaches that it is required to serve and this is the most respected position for all. Jesus is the teacher and example to the point of serving by giving his life for us. Seeking honors is a way to go off of the path of the will of God.
The first reading reminds Christians that they carry the body of the dying Christ in their own bodies which are earthen vessels filled with this treasure of the heart and soul.
The prologue of the Rule of St Benedict:
LI S T E N carefully, my child,to your master's precepts,and incline the ear of your heart (Prov. 4:20).Receive willingly and carry out effectively your loving father's advice, that by the labor of obedience you may return to Him from whom you had departed by the sloth of disobedience.
To you, therefore, my words are now addressed, whoever you may be, who are renouncing your own will to do battle under the Lord Christ, the true King, and are taking up the strong, bright weapons of obedience.
And first of all, whatever good work you begin to do, beg of Him with most earnest prayer to perfect it, that He who has now deigned to count us among His childrenmay not at any time be grieved by our evil deeds. For we must always so serve Him with the good things He has given us, that He will never as an angry Father disinherit His children, nor ever as a dread Lord, provoked by our evil actions, deliver us to everlasting punishment
posted by Joan Morris at 1:42 PM
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