Drinking Jesus’ Chalice, Feast of St. James, July 25, 2015

Fr. Roger J. Landry
Visitation Convent of the Sisters of Life, Manhattan
Feast of St. James the Apostle
July 25, 2015
2 Cor 4:7-15, Ps 126, Mt 20:20-28

 

To listen to an audio homily of today’s homily, please click below: 

 

The following points were attempted in the homily: 

  • The transformation of our ambition from worldly desires and aggrandizement to union with Christ and union with his saving love.
  • Christ’s ambition for us is to share his chalice, drinking of God’s own life and love and then, with him, pouring ourselves out as a ransom for the many. This is a scary chalice to drink. Jesus asked three times in the Garden that he might be spared it. But this is the cup he offers. This is the crown. St. Paul will ask in his first letter to the Corinthians, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?”
  • St. Paul says in today’s first reading that the true disciple is “always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.” We’re “constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” And that “life of Jesus,” that death can’t extinguish, is shown by our giving ourselves to save others from slavery, using our own life as a ransom, just as Jesus used his for our ransom.
  • We ask in Psalm 116, “How can I repay the Lord for all the good done for me? I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” This is what we do here. This is where the Good Shepherd who gave his life as a ransom for ours transforms us so that we might experience his life in giving it away. This is where we experience what is pointed to by Psalm 23: “my cup overflows.” St. James received this cup when Jesus said, “Take and drink. This is the chalice of my blood. The blood of the new and eternal Covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sin.” St. James drank it to the dregs when Herod had him killed by the sword, the first of the apostles to be martyred (Acts 12:2). This is the cup he extends to us. “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” Let us all ask God’s help, through St. James’ intercession, and not only say, “We can!,” but pick it up — with all it means — and drink that chalice to the dregs.

Today’s readings were: 

Reading 1

2 COR 4:7-15

Brothers and sisters:
We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
For we who live are constantly being given up to death
for the sake of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith,
according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,
we too believe and therefore speak,
knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus
will raise us also with Jesus
and place us with you in his presence.
Everything indeed is for you,
so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people
may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.

Responsorial Psalm
PS 126:1BC-2AB, 2CD-3, 4-5, 6

R. (5) Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Gospel
MT 20:20-28

The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her,
“What do you wish?”
She answered him,
“Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.”
Jesus said in reply,
“You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
They said to him, “We can.”
He replied,
“My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Unknown-2
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