YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (2)
HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS.
BY: FR. PAUL B. ENOW.
YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS.
BY: FR. PAUL B. ENOW.
HOMILY: ST. JAMES, APOSTLE.
2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Psalm 126
Matthew 20:20-28
Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. James, the Apostle, one of the Zebedee brothers. Together with his brother John and Peter, he belonged to the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus. He is the first Apostle to witness martyrdom, by Herod. The Gospel reading presents the mother of the Zebedee brothers asking for positions in the dispensation of Jesus. This stemmed from a wrong conception of the mission of the Messiah. The Lord Jesus had to put things in the right perspective. The disciple of Jesus is called to service and not to lordship over others. Having witnessed to the Paschal Mystery, James came to a right understanding of discipleship in relation to Jesus. It is no wonder then that he was the first Apostle to lay down his life for the sake of the Gospel.
The disciple of Jesus carries within himself/herself the treasures of the kingdom despite the fact that he is steeped in weakness. One of the books of a foremost preacher of God’s word in our time, Venerable Fulton Sheen titled his autobiography “Treasure in Clay”. He probably drew inspiration from today’s first reading. The life and ministry of the disciple of Jesus is a paradox.
The first reading presents us with the contradictions in the life of witnessing of the disciple of Jesus. In all these, we have an imprint of the divine presence. The disciple is not to be put off by his weaknesses and difficulties but to rely on the One who strengthens him from above.
ST. JAMES, PRAY FOR US. AMEN.
“Nobody is able to say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1Cor.12:3).
FR. PAUL B. ENOW.
