Homily for the Feast of St. James the Greater, Apostle

          

            You are likely aware of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela – the Way of St. James. It is a pilgrimage route beginning in various places in Europe and ending at the Cathedral of St. James of Compostela in Northern Spain, where the body of St. James the Greater is buried. Pilgrims who make the Camino today carry a scallop seashell in remembrance of the medieval pilgrims who carried a scallop shell to use as a cup from which to drink along the way. The camino is a grueling walk of 100k, or 200km if made on horseback or bicycle. A long time ago, in a parish far, far away, a couple of my dear friends made the Camino pilgrimage and came back changed forever. They taught me that the camino does not really end. Our life’s journey as Christians is also to be the camino, the way of the pilgrim. Whether we experience joy or suffering, each is but another step in which to rejoice on the camino of life.

          In today’s Gospel reading from St. Matthew we hear the mother of James and his younger brother John ask the Lord on their behalf to be rewarded with seats on his left and right in the Kingdom. St. Mark’s version omits the mother, so we can be pretty sure it was the rapscallions themselves who were behind this request, not her. Jesus shakes his head at them for their grasping at perceived power and fame and informs them that those places are not his to give. Even the cup from which he will later drink is placed in his hands by the Father. They look at him in confusion, not understanding. Jesus them asks if they are able to drink the chalice, or cup, that he is to drink. In their youthful exuberance and naiveté they say ‘Yep!’ while not having a clue what that even means.

          In the Gospel of Matthew, the cup from which Christ is to drinkis mentioned twice – once in this pericope and again in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus asks the Father to take away the cup if possible, but submits his will to that of God and accepts the cup. What is the meaning of the cup? In Psalm 75, Isaiah 51, Jeremiah 25, and Ezekiel 23 we read that for Israel, the cup was a symbol of God’s judgement poured out on ungodly nations. This cup of judgement means for Jesus that he will suffer and die, emptying himself completely, and bearing the sins of all humanity for all time. For those who drink the cup of Christ, it means the same. James died a martyr’s death ten years later, beheaded by Herod Agrippa. John lived a martyr’s life of persecution and banishment to the island of Patmos.

          The camino is not arrogant or domineering, seeking places of honor. For those who aspire to sit at the right or left of Christ, or the pope, or the bishop, or seek any other temporal power, I have only this to say: ‘Self – since you think you are so important and impactful, I invite you to put your finger into a bowl of water, pull it out, and then admire the hole you have made.’ For we who walk as pilgrim disciples of Jesus Christ, the camino is drinking from the cup of Christ. It is about willingly accepting and sharing in his suffering, knowing that our beloved Savior walks alongside us. The camino is about living in service to one another, pouring ourselves out completely as we work to build up the Kingdom of God in a world darkened by sin. Strengthened by the Holy Eucharist, “Rise, let us be on our way”[1] along the camino of life, serving one another and continuing the work of Jesus Christ, come what may. Can you drink from the chalice from which Christ drank?

Saint James the Greater, Patron of Pilgrims, Pray for us!

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[1] John Paul II, (2004). Rise, Let us be on our Way. New York, NY: Warner Books. St. Pope John Paul the Great issued a call to action, urging all the baptized faithful to persevere in continuing the work of Jesus Christ.