On Sunday July 27, a beautiful bilingual [Cantonese and English] celebration was held at St James’ Church to mark the parish feast day. This prepared message serves both as a reminder and a source of meditation on the meaning of the celebration and the impact of St. James on our lives today.
Reverend Fathers, my dear parishioners of St. James’ Church,
On this joyful occasion of the feast day of your patron, St. James the Apostle, I extend my heartfelt greetings to each one of you. It is a day for us to reflect on the life and witness of this great apostle, whose unwavering faith and magnanimous heart continue to inspire us in our Christian journey. Let me express my gratitude for your invitation to serve as the main celebrant of this feast day’s Holy Mass.
We were supposed to meet last week for this momentous occasion, but the laws of nature urged us to feel the strong winds of Typhoon Wipha [signal no. 10] from safer shelters. Revitalised, we meet here today, strongly convinced that the love that unites us as a family is stronger than the temporary truths of the weather.
St. James, the brother of St. John and son of Zebedee, was among the very first disciples called by Jesus on the Sea of Galilee, who abandoned his nets and father to follow the Lord. This ready and unquestioning obedience to the Lord’s call is one of the profoundest lessons that can be derived from his life. He teaches us promptness in answering the call of the Lord, even when it calls us forth from our comfort and human securities.
St. James was privileged to be a member of an inner circle of three disciples, the other two being Peter and John, whom Jesus permitted to enter into great moments of his earthly life. He witnessed the Transfiguration glory, seeing the divine splendor of Jesus as he conversed with Moses and Elijah. Yet he also witnessed the profound agony and humiliation of Christ in the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, seeing the Son of God humbling himself even unto death.
This ready and unquestioning obedience to the Lord’s call is one of the profoundest lessons that can be derived from his life. He teaches us promptness in answering the call of the Lord, even when it calls us forth from our comfort and human securities
These contrasting experiences were crucial for James’ growth in faith, as they led him to understand that the Messianic glory was attained not only in glory but also in weakness and affliction, and ultimately on the Cross.
One of the dramatic incidents in the life of St. James, as told in the gospels, is when he and his brother John, through their mother, requested to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand in his Kingdom.
It is obviously the gospel reading you have chosen for use at today’s celebration. Jesus replied by asking whether they could drink the cup he was about to drink. James and John replied with confidence, “we are able”. Even though they may not have possibly known at that time the implication of this “cup” which referred to Christ’s passion and death, James later came to realise the reality of it.
This exchange reveals his enthusiasm in being a disciple of Christ, even if it meant suffering. Indeed, St. James was the first of the Apostles to drink the cup of the passion and share martyrdom [Pope Benedict XVI, James, the Greater, General Audience of 21 June 2006].
As recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, King Herod Agrippa “laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the Church. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword” [Acts 12:1-2]. That this is such a short report emphasises how common it was for early Christians to bear witness to the Lord with their lives. The martyrdom of Saint James is a strong witness to courageous witness to Christ, even to ultimate sacrifice.
Even though they [James and John] may not have possibly known at that time the implication of this ‘cup’ which referred to Christ’s passion and death, James later came to realise the reality of it
What can we learn from Saint James the Apostle is:
– Prompt obedience to God’s call: His immediate response to Jesus’ invitation to follow him, leaving everything behind, teaches us to be ready to accept God’s will in our lives without delay. Some of us will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation during this Holy Mass. May you, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, be confirmed in the faith and be ready, like James, to “own” the faith and to act according to its ways.
– Accepting both glory and suffering: That James was present both at the Transfiguration and the Agony in Gethsemane shows us that Christian life involves both the consolations of God and the persecutions of the world. True faith understands that the glory of Christ is ultimately revealed through His suffering and self-offering.
– Courageous witness: The martyrdom of St. James is a powerful witness to his unwavering faith and his willingness to die for Christ. He inspires us to be courageous in proclaiming the Good News and in living our faith, even when it is challenging.
– Servanthood: Even though his mother initially requested a place of honour, James’s life came to demonstrate the truth that Christ “came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” [Matthew 20:28]. This instructs us that Kingdom greatness is in humble service.
As we celebrate this feast day, let us strive to imitate St. James’ unselfish dedication to Christ. May his example impart to us the courage to be loyal followers of Jesus, to embrace both the joys and the sorrows of our Christian pilgrimage, and to bear courageous witness to the gospel in our own lives. The celebration will not end here.
I know that later today you will meet at Po Chiu Catholic Secondary School to continue the celebration with another special touch. May this “touch” leave an indelible mark in your hearts and help consolidate the bond of unity among the different communities that bring joy and love to this lovely parish community.
As we will bless the statue of Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, let us ask for her help to untangle the difficulties and problems in our lives and live with this confidence that God hears our prayers.
Amen.
In Christ,
Father Dominique Mukonda, CICM
