The Festival of St. James the Elder, Apostle
Posted on July 25, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 20:20-28 (NKJV)
20:20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.
21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?”
She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
They said to Him, “We are able.”
23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Devotion
Jesus responded to the sons of Zebedee without mentioning their claimed ability, but He foreshadowed both how unable they were, and how supremely able the strength of Christ’s work on their behalf was to uphold them. St. Paul confesses this in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Such strength obtains because the Son of Man came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for the multitude of sinners. With our ransom paid, we have no need of vying for an office or position to make God pleased with us, a place of closeness to the throne to have favor bestowed upon us. Rather, we have His favor purely by mercy, for Jesus’ sake. Because of this, we can simply, freely, joyously serve our brethren without worrying over our status in God’s Kingdom.
As St. James and St. John then did, our pastors and bishop are to model this today, going even to extremes in study and travel to serve Christ’s Bride. Faithful service doesn’t glory in the position of lordship, but shows what Christ’s Lordship entails: the servants rejoice to share the favor poured upon them in Christ, so that every Christian may learn to do the same in his own vocations.
Collect: O Almighty God, Who hast built Thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Head Cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable unto Thee; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
O God, Who hast prepared for them that love Thee such good things as pass man’s understanding: Pour into our hearts such love toward Thee, that we, loving Thee above all things, may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
