Word to the Wise
Thursday, July 25, 2024 - July 25 - St. James, Apostle
[2 Cor 4:7-15 and Matt 20:20-28]We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. [2 Corinthians] "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." [Matthew]
JULY 25 ST. JAMES [son of Zebedee, apostle]
James, the son of Zebedee, along with his brother, John, was one of the first to be called as an apostle. The two of them, along with Peter, seemed to have a special status because they were witnesses at the healing of the daughter of Jairus, the Transfiguration and with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Their mom seems to have sensed this and tried to make sure their status would continue in the "kingdom" that Jesus was promising. Of course, the other ten apostles learned about it somehow and took offense. Their "offense," seems to have been rooted, however, in the same motivation that Mother Zebedee and her two sons had: POWER. Jesus had to call all of them in and give them a pep talk about the danger of POWER as an obstacle to his kingdom!
St. Paul's words about power also need to be remembered by anyone called to leadership of any kind in the church. Leaders are called to use their power to serve and not to be served. Earthen vessels are just that: earthen. Pope Francis has continually denounced "clericalism" - an attitude that ordination somehow makes one a superior being, entitled to "lord it over" others. The issue, however, concerns POWER and not just the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The ugliness of the desire for power is on full display in an election year in our society, but it is manifested in Church and society in many smaller ways when CONTROL of a group or activity becomes the goal of one or more persons in the group.
Jesus makes it clear for all of us, from Pope to pewperson, that all power in the community of faith comes from him and is given for the purpose of washing the feet of our neighbor. [cf. John 13]. A clerical collar is not a license to rule. Nor is a title a license to control. We can thank James, the son of Zebedee, for giving Jesus the opportunity to remind us of this. AMEN