Gospel: July 25, 2025
July 25, 2025 (Friday)
Feast of St. James, Apostle
Psalter: Proper / (Red)
Ps 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
1st Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28
Then the mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, and she knelt down, to ask a favor. Jesus said to her, “What do you want?” And she answered, “Here, you have my two sons. Grant, that they may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus said to the brothers, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They answered, “We can.” Jesus replied, “You will indeed drink my cup; but to sit at my right or at my left is not for me to grant.
That will be for those, for whom my Father has prepared it.” The other 10 heard all this, and were angry with the two brothers. Then Jesus called them to him and said, “You know, that the rulers of nations behave like tyrants, and the powerful oppress them. It shall not be so among you: whoever wants to be great in your community, let him minister to the community. And if you want to be the first of all, make yourself the servant of all. Be like the Son of Man, who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life to redeem many.”
Reflection:
“Make yourself the servant of all.”
Saint Gregory the Great was the first to use the title servus servorum Dei—servant of the servants of God. Before it became a title exclusively of popes, it was also used by medieval kings, such as Alfonso III of Spain. Both Saint Gregory and King Alfonso were called Great and yet both called themselves servants. “You know that the rulers of nations behave like tyrants … It shall not be so among you … first of all, make yourself the servant of all.”
Christ teaches us that leadership is not about self-aggrandizement or about grabbing power for self-gain. Whatever power we have is to be used for the good of others and to the glory of God. It is to be used as service, in imitation of Christ, the suffering servant, who gave his life for our salvation. Christ-like loving service: that is true greatness. The brothers James and John had to learn the hard way what true greatness means, and Saint James the Apostle was the first to be martyred for the Christian faith, serving others by witnessing to Christ even to giving his life. May Saint James pray for us, that we might learn how to serve.
