Homily for the Feast of Saint James, Apostle

The Gospel passage today highlights the human tendency to seek status and importance. In this case, the mother of two of Jesus' disciples desires recognition for her sons. This tendency can stem from pride, whether for ourselves or for those we love. The offense taken by the other Apostles serves as another example of our desire to appear significant in the eyes of others.

We can observe this tendency in various areas, such as the media, government, and other fields, where individuals strive to appear more important and influential than their peers.

Jesus's teaching in this story is clear: the desire for status has no place in the lives of His disciples. To truly follow Him, they must be willing to endure suffering, just as He did. They are called to serve others rather than seek to be served. Humility and prioritizing others above ourselves are the keys to true greatness—the kind of greatness we are all called to achieve. This greatness reflects being created in the image of God, following His ways, and ultimately returning home to our Father at the end of our lives, bringing with us only the fruits of our actions on earth.