I would like to say that I relate to St. James because I am a good leader or because I am strong enough to stand up and offer my life as a martyr. But the truth is that I relate, not to St. James the martyr, but to James the Disciple who struggles with humility; the “Son of Thunder” who operates a bit like a bull in a china shop. Like James, I think that all by myself, I am ready to do more than I really can.
Now, to be fair to James, it seems he comes by it naturally. After all, James’s momma was looking out for her boys and asked Jesus for a place of honor for her sons in his kingdom. At the mother’s request, Jesus turns to James and his brother and asks them if they could drink from his chalice.
Before we move on, let’s take a deeper look at this exchange. Offering to let someone drink from your cup or chalice is an honor, a sign of deep friendship. So immediately, Jesus is responding to the mother’s pride in her sons by telling her that it is justified, Jesus does consider James and John his close friends.
However, we know that this is not simply a statement of friendship. Jesus knows the chalice he is to drink. He knows the sacrifice he is to make and the sacrifice James will make as the first of the Apostles to be martyred.
But James and John respond with an eager, “We can!” to Jesus’s offer. Without understanding what would be asked of them, James is quick to give his assent, to sign up for the impossible task or, as my dad used to say, let his mouth write checks his body will have to cover.
Whatever reason James has for agreeing to drink from Jesus’s cup, Jesus responds by acknowledging that James will do just that. Jesus doesn’t point out how difficult the path will be. Jesus acknowledges James’s passion and zeal. Jesus sees James’s big heart and desire to do what he can and loves him for it. Jesus doesn’t harp on James’s weakness and shortcomings, but guides and leads James to do more. In the road ahead, Jesus shows James by example that human suffering is redemptive. When we love, we offer our very selves for the good of the other.
May St. James guide and intercede for us, as we too, respond to Jesus when he asks, “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
Me gustaría decir que me relaciono con San Santiago porque soy un buen líder o porque soy lo suficientemente fuerte como para levantarme y ofrecer mi vida como mártir. Pero la verdad es que me relaciono, no con Santiago el mártir, sino con Santiago el Discípulo que lucha con la humildad; el “Hijo del Trueno” que opera un poco como un toro en una tienda de porcelana. Al igual que Santiago, creo que solo, estoy lista para hacer más de lo que realmente puedo.
Ahora, para ser justos con Santiago, parece que lo hace naturalmente. Después de todo, su mamá estaba cuidando a sus hijos cuando le pidió a Jesús un lugar de honor en su reino. A petición de la madre, Jesús voltea a Santiago y su hermano y les pregunta si pueden beber de su cáliz.
Antes de continuar, echemos un vistazo más profundo a este intercambio. Ofrecerse a alguien para que beba de tu copa o cáliz es un honor, un signo de profunda amistad. Entonces, inmediatamente, Jesús está respondiendo al orgullo de la madre por sus hijos diciéndole que está justificado, Jesús considera a Santiago y Juan como sus amigos íntimos.
Sin embargo, sabemos que esto no es simplemente una declaración de amistad. Jesús sabe el cáliz que debe beber. Sabe el sacrificio que debe hacer y el sacrificio que Santiago hará como el primero de los Apóstoles de ser martirizado.
Pero Santiago y John responden con entusiasmo: “¡Sí podemos!” a la oferta de Jesús. Sin entender lo que se les pediría, Santiago se apresura a dar su asentimiento, a apuntarse a la tarea imposible o, como decía mi papá, dejar que su boca escriba cheques que su cuerpo deberá cubrir.
Cualquiera que sea la razón que tenga Santiago para aceptar beber de la copa de Jesús, Jesús responde reconociendo que Santiago hará precisamente eso. Jesús no señala lo difícil que será el camino. Jesús reconoce la pasión y el celo de Santiago. Jesús ve el gran corazón de Santiago y su deseo de hacer lo que pueda y lo ama por ello. Jesús no insiste en las debilidades y defectos de Santiago, sino que lo guía y conduce a Santiago a hacer más. En el camino por delante, Jesús le muestra a Santiago con el ejemplo que el sufrimiento humano es redentor. Cuando amamos, nos ofrecemos a nosotros mismos por el bien del otro.
Que Santiago nos guíe e interceda por nosotros, como también nosotros respondemos a Jesús cuando nos pregunta: “¿Puedes beber el cáliz que voy a beber?”
Sheryl is happy to be the number 1 cheerleader and supporter for her husband, Tom who is a candidate for the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. They are so grateful for the opportunity to grow together in this process. Sheryl’s day job is serving her community as the principal for St. Therese Catholic School in Wayland, Michigan. Since every time she thinks she gets life all figured out, she realizes just how far she has to go, St. Rita of Cascia is her go-to Saint for intercession and help. Home includes Carlyn, a very, very goofy Golden Retriever and Lucy, our not-so-little rescue puppy.
Feature Image Credit: Jametlene Reskp, unsplash.com/photos/21xmyDjZPck
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