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Santiago speaks to us

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Happy Día de Santiago!  Today is the Feast of St. James, an very important day in Spain.  Let’s consider how this day can be more important for us.

From today’s Gospel:

Jesus asked James and John, “Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” (Mt 20:22)

      ————-

Santiago Speaks to Us

If you ask a six-year old what he wants to be when he grows up, he’ll most likely answer with big ideas. You’ll most likely chuckle, because he has no idea what it takes to reach those goals. That doesn’t mean he won’t do big things–but he’ll need growth and guidance first.

James had big ideas when he thought he could drink the same “cup” as Jesus.  But at this point, James had no idea what that would entail.

Fast forward 900 years, and St. James’ bones were discovered in Spain after a vision received by a hermit named Pelayo. At this time, the people of Spain had been near despair over a long war with the Moors, and they needed hope. The discovery St. James’ tomb gave them the inspiration they needed to reclaim their land.

Mentorship made the man

James inspired the Spanish because, over time, he learned to drink from the cup of Jesus. Here’s the mentorship that got him there.  
  • James was one of only three disciples whom Jesus allowed to see the raising of Jairus’ daughter. James saw the family near despair, and then he saw a resurrection.  
  • Then, after Jesus spoke of his coming cross and death, James was one of only three disciples who witnessed Jesus’ Transfiguration. (Do you see a pattern?)  
  • Finally, he was one of only three disciples that saw Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. In that moment of near despair, Jesus said, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.”  After this came the cross and resurrection.
Jesus gave James mentorship in these pivotal events so that he could understand that the “cup” he would drink is the cross, and that the cross would always result in resurrection. 

The man in missionJesus taught James what drinking this cup would do, and this is why James was able to carry the cross himself. He did so as a missionary, bringing hope to the people of Spain. After returning to Jerusalem, James became the first apostle to be martyred.

A mentor for us

Like the young St. James, the gospel calls for you and me to dream big things for God and to have big ideas. Do we know what it takes to accomplish them?

And, like the people of 9th Century Spain, you and I have our own battles, our own crosses, and our own reasons to cry out in near despair.

But after the cross, the resurrection. We’ve been mentored by the same gospel as James, so we can walk in his way of hope.
Pray for us, Santiago! 

In Christ,
Fr. Scharbach

Celebrate the Feast 
If you haven’t decided on dinner, then how about an easy traditional Spanish recipe in honor of Santiago?  Gazpacho or Spanish tortilla are standard. Or, Europeans have traditionally eaten shellfish on this day because Santiago’s symbol is a shell.