St James Catholic Church

When Jesus asks James and John, “What do you wish me to do for you?” they could have responded some other way. They could have asked him to tell them what they could do for him. They could have asked him how they could prevent him from being put to death, which he had told them three times now. But instead, they asked for a prominent place in heaven. Do we sometimes do what Jesus wishes just so that we will be rewarded by someone? Or, so we will more likely be rewarded by going to heaven? Or rather, do we do what Jesus wishes because it’s the right thing for us to do?

Today is World Mission Sunday, an opportunity to remember that each one of us participates in the Christian mission by virtue of our baptism. In baptism, we promise to follow Christ and to put our faith into practice. There may be no better way to put our faith in practice than by carrying out the mission of the Church. This is a reminder to build solidarity through works and prayer with both missionaries and the people they serve. In our petitions each week we do so by praying for our sister parish, Santisimo Sacramento in Peru.

Throughout his gospel, St. Mark emphasized how difficult it was for the disciples to truly understand Jesus and his mission. Jesus had just told them that he would be arrested, put to death, then rise on the third day. So what do James and John do? They ask for a special place in the Kingdom. The others became indignant, but is it just because they thought of it first? Jesus summoned them, calling them to discipleship all over again, but this time immediately explaining to them that being a disciple means being the servant of all. How can each of us be of service in our family, our parish, and our community?

Love, Peace, Joy,

Fr. Bob