What lessons have you learned in your spiritual journey, particularly in following and obeying God’s will for you and in serving others? - Daily Reflections July 25,2014

A LESSON FOR US   How we look at today’s saint, St. James the Greater — with the appended tag of superiority in his name, his prominence in the Gospel narratives (innermost circle of Jesus’ Apostles, exclusive access to special miracles, and so on), and his preeminence as the first martyr among the Apostles — seems to be an antithesis to the message of the Gospel passage today. “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave,” Jesus insists.        Our Lord’s words can’t be any clearer and more straight to the point. And with His own self as the example (“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”), the message is made even more emphatic and credible.        Furthermore, St. Paul in the First Reading reminds us that “we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.” We cannot claim anything as though it was our own effort.        Notice again Jesus’ words in the Gospel: “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.”        We need to exert effort in order to collaborate with and fulfill God’s will for us. But over and above this human effort, there is that certain gratuitousness on the part of God. The mother and sons of Zebedee learned the lesson the hard way. May they, in turn, most especially St. James, accompany us in our learning journey. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB   REFLECTION QUESTION: What lessons have you learned in your spiritual journey, particularly in following and obeying God’s will for you and in serving others?   Thank You, Lord, for the gift of saints in Your Church. I pray that their lives will serve as inspiration to Your people.