Homily: July 25 - St. James the Greater, Apostle & Martyr - Pilgrimage

Today we honor St. James the Apostle, son of Zebedee and the brother of another apostle, St. John the Evangelist.  This St. James is traditionally given the title, “the Greater” to distinguish him from another Apostle, St. James, Son of Alpheus, who is called “the lesser”.  The titles “greater” and “lesser” are not intended to measure their level of holiness, but simply describe how frequent they are mentioned in the New Testament.

James was called by the Lord while working as a fisherman.  He and his brother John were docked on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and they were mending their nets.  The Lord beckoned and they followed, changing their lives forever. 

Scripture paints James and John as zealous and enthusiastic followers of Jesus.  They were called “the Sons of Thunder” by Jesus himself. 

Together with Simon Peter and his brother, St. James was privileged to be admitted into some very important moments in Jesus’ life—moments where the apostles came to understand just who Jesus was.  He was there on Mount Tabor—when the Lord became Transfigured, hearing the voice from heaven saying “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”  He was there at the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, at the raising of Jairus’ daughter, and at the Lord’s agony in the Garden.

Apostleship prepared James to die for the Faith.  Around 44 AD, he was martyred— according to the 12^th Chapter of the Book of Acts—beheaded by Herod Agrippa—making him the first apostle to be martyred. 

Although Saint James was martyred Israel, before his martyrdom, he went on an evangelizing mission quite far from the Sea of Galilee, so his relics were brought back to Spain for veneration.

Over the last 2000 years, thousands and thousands of Catholics have made pilgrimage to venerate St. James’ relics in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. You may have heard of the famous pilgrimage route called the Via de Compostela, the famous way of Saint James.  There was a movie starring Martin Sheen that was pretty well done.

Pilgrimage is good for the soul.  During the Year of Faith, the diocese of Cleveland is sponsoring a pilgrimage to five churches across the diocese, including our own cathedral.  There were bulletin inserts about the pilgrimage but you can still learn about the diocesan pilgrimage on the diocese of Cleveland website. 

Making pilgrimage to a shrine reminds us that the entire Christian life is much like a pilgrimage.  And the joys and sufferings of the pilgrimage remind us that striving to be like Jesus in our service to God, is full of both joys and sufferings.

Making a pilgrimage can be a way of reigniting our zeal for living and spreading the Gospel.

May we have the fervor and zeal and courage needed to be faithful followers of Jesus, and may we know that through life’s difficulties we have great Saints, like St. James the Greater, the Son of Zebedee, to intercede for our efforts for the Glory of God and Salvation of Souls.

Collect: Almighty ever-living God, who consecrated the first fruits of your Apostles by the blood of Saint James, grant, we pray ,that your Church may be strengthened by his confession of faith and constantly sustained by his protection.

Prayer over the Offerings: Cleanse us, Lord, by the saving baptism of your Son's Passion, so that on the Feast of Saint James, whom you willed to be the first among the Apostles to drink of Christ's chalice of suffering, we may offer a sacrifice pleasing to you.

Prayer after Communion: Help us, O Lord, we pray, through the intercession of the blessed Apostle James, on whose feast day we have received with joy your holy gifts.