But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?’ They said to Him, ‘We are able.’” (Matthew 20:22).
We do not know many things about the ancient Saint James, Son of Zebedee, brother of Saint John the Evangelist…
We do know a few things about him though…
We know that he is called James the Elder or James the Great, to distinguish him from the other apostle Saint James who was also called to follow Christ as one of the twelve.
And we also know that Saint James the Elder was a very important apostle, because he was included in three pivotal moments in the Gospel with Saints Simon Peter and John.
These three Saints – James, Simon Peter and John – were selected by Christ to witness Christ raising Jarius’ daughter from the dead…
“While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. ‘Your daughter is dead,’ they said. ‘Why bother the teacher anymore?’ Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’ He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.” (Mark 5:35-37).
These three Saints – James, Simon Peter and John – were selected by Christ to witness Christ’s Transfiguration on Mount Tabour…
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.” (Matthew 17:1-2).
And these three Saints – James, Simon Peter and John – were selected by Christ to witness Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane…
“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James and John along with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ He said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’” (Mark 14:32-34).
And I have been reflecting on that selection of those three apostles – Simon Peter, John and his older brother, James the Elder…
Why? Why did Christ choose them?
And I think the reason why is pretty straight-forward… you see, they were LOYAL… In fact, when “…the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John) came up to Him, with her sons, and kneeling before Him she asked Him for something. And He said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to Him, ‘Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left, in Your kingdom.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?’ They said to Him, ‘We are able.’” (Matthew 20:20-22).
In Christ’s time, if someone was invited to share a cup with another person, it was a sign of intimacy and loyalty because the liquid contained in that shared cup could be either delicious and nourishing, or it could contain poison… And in sharing a cup, two people were effectively committing to share the consequences – together.
The Latin word for “We are able” is “Possumus”. And that means that when Christ asked Saint James the Elder and Saint John the Evangelist, “Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They replied, “Possumus!”… And they replied immediately – without thinking about it. They committed – wholeheartedly – to their Beloved because nothing in the consequences of such a commitment could be worse than being separated from him…
Possumus, to endure persecution, Possumus, to endure poverty, Possumus, to endure martyrdom…
And Saint James the Elder (and Saint John the Evangelist) did this, because they wished to stay close to God…
And though – after all – of all the apostles who followed Christ during His life, it was Saint John alone who stood at the foot of the Cross with Christ’s Mother, Saint James the Elder did indeed follow his Beloved until the end. You see, sacred tradition tells us that Saint James the Elder preached the Gospel in Spain and it was Saint James the Elder who was the first of the apostles martyred in Christ’s name – and the only apostle whose death is recorded in Sacred Scripture…
“It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.” (Acts 12:1-2);
And so, as I reflect on the Great Saint James the Great, it occurs to me to ask him to pray for me to receive the Grace so that I too can say, “Possumus” – for how could I possibly resist any means to grow closer to my Beloved?
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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