Festival of St. James the Elder, Apostle
Posted on July 25, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 12:46-50 (NKJV)
12:46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Devotion
“Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
In Mark 10, we read about James and John asking Jesus if they could sit, one on His right hand and the other on His left, in glory (v. 37). It’s almost as though they never even heard what He said about His impending crucifixion (v. 33-34). Jesus asks them if they can drink the cup that He will drink. They say they can; and Jesus says they will, but it is not for Him to grant their request.
They wanted to be great in the kingdom, and, indeed, as they fulfilled their calling and sealed it with their martyrdom, none would claim that they are not somewhat “great.” But this comes by way of bearing their crosses in this world, as it does for us. Jesus tells us that whoever does the will of His Father in heaven is “great,” and they are His brother and sister and mother. What is His Father’s will? “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29). God work in us such a faith that dismisses bargaining and simply trusts Christ.
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 Eighth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Grant to us, Lord, we beseech Thee, the Spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do anything that is good without Thee, may by Thee be enabled to live according to Thy will; 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.
