Feast of St James, Apostle.

"FOR THE ONE WHO DOES NOT PRACTICE MERCY WILL HAVE HIS JUDGMENT WITHOUT MERCY. MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT." (JAMES 2: 13).

"The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and 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.”  (Matthew 20: 20.... 28).

Monday July 25th 2022 of the 17th week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St James, Apostle.

James and John are sons of Zebedee, both fishermen. They left their nets and followed Jesus when He called them from their fishing occupation. Peter, James and John belong to the inner circle of the group of Apostles.

James was known as the Elder or Greater to differentiate him from his fellow Apostle called James. James was one of the Apostles with Peter and John who witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus on the Mountain and the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
James was condemned to death under King Agrippa I and beheaded around 44 AD.

James is the patron saint of Spain, Philippines, Guatemala, etc. He is also the patron saint of pharmacists, tanners, others.
In the West of Spain is Santiago de Compostela, a worldwide pilgrimage site where St James is venerated.

In the today's Gospel, to the request of Salome, the Mother of James and John that Jesus makes James Prime Minister and John Foreign Minister in His 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.” I like the fact that Salome understands that the word of God is a Command. It accomplishes everything it is sent to. 

Often we do not know what we ask  from God. But to the credit of James and John, they indicated that they were ready to die for Jesus. James was beheaded by King Aggrippa in 44 AD.

7. 25. July is the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ Month.

“I long to drink of his blood, the gift of unending love.”  ( St Ignatius of Antioch).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com