Feast of Saint James, Apostle

Today's Mass Readings

There’s something about the story in today’s gospel from Matthew that is endearing in a way that the similar story in the Gospel of Mark is not. In Mark, James and John approach Jesus themselves and ask Him to do whatever they ask. They proceed to ask to sit at His right and left when He comes into His glory. Jesus, as in today’s gospel, tells them that they will indeed drink the cup He will drink, but places are not His to assign (Mark 10:35-45). A request for honor is much more palatable made by a mother on behalf of her children. We understand that mothers want what’s best for their children. And when she asks on behalf of James and John, we don’t find the men themselves as brazen as in Mark’s version. At first glance, we may think that their mother is naïve, as mothers can sometimes be when speaking about how worthy their children are. That she doesn’t know that she asking for her sons to suffer and die as Jesus will.

Yet, this is likely not the case with this mother. She is likely a disciple of Jesus herself and perchance understands a bit more than her sons do. Jesus’ response “You do not know what you are asking” (Mt 20:20) is plural and the Greek grammar suggests that it is aimed not at the mother, but at James and John. In both Mark and Matthew’s version, Jesus and the disciples are on the road to Jerusalem. Since we know the end of the story, we know that Jesus is on his way to His death. He even tells the disciples as much right before today’s gospel passage (see Mt 20:17-19). Perhaps this mother understood exactly what her request entailed of her sons. Perhaps she knew that they would have to suffer and die as Jesus did.

Wow. If this is the case (and, obviously, there is no way of knowing definitively), our admiration for this mother is ratcheted up a few notches. She, as all mothers, wants what’s best for her children, which is to stand with Jesus even if it means suffering and death. What an incredible mother it would take to wish such a thing for her children. She doesn’t cling to her children, but rather wants them to go forth in service of Jesus, no matter the cost.

Let us pray today for the grace to let God re-order everything in our lives. That is, let us pray for the grace to hold onto nothing (or no one) so tightly that it keeps us (or them) from God.

- Tim Gabrielli