Thoughts for the Day

At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

On 25th July we celebrate St James, the Apostle, a Saint that has great meaning for me, since I have served as Vicar of two churches dedicated to him: in Worcestershire (first post) and in Pembrokeshire (last post), and then retired to a church in Staffordshire also dedicated to him.

James is often known as James the Great. He and his brother John were sons of Zebedee and Jesus called them from their work as fishermen. They lived in Capernaum, the place where Jesus made his base, and would likely have seen Jesus when he worshipped in the synagogue or walked along the shore. But when he called them to become 'fishers of men' they left their father and the hired hands and followed him immediately, we are told. The brothers were known as the "Sons of Thunder", possibly because of their fiery zeal. James was also one of the four disciples who wanted to know when the destruction of the Temple would happen. (Mark 13.2-4)

As a member of Jesus' inner circle James witnessed the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8.40-56), the Transfiguration on the mountain (Matthew 17.1-8), and Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26.36-46). But it was he and John who asked Jesus if they could sit at his right and left hand in the future Kingdom, which upset the other disciples. We should note that Jesus had just explained that He was going to his death, and their answer as to whether they could “drink from the cup he is about to drink”, ie suffer the death that Jesus will suffer, is an immediate yes! (Matthew 20.20-28)

From the passage above we can see that James was killed by Herod Agrippa in about 44 AD. He is the only Apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the Gospels, and he is the Patron Saint of Pilgrims. His symbol is a shell. The shrine at Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where tradition has it that his body is buried, attracts Christian pilgrims today from all over the world.

Merciful God,
whose holy apostle Saint James,
leaving his father and all that he had,
was obedient to the calling of your Son Jesus Christ
and followed him even to death:
help us, forsaking the false attractions of the world,
to be ready at all times to answer your call without delay;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.