Monday, July 25, 2011

St. James the Apostle

Today we honor St. James the Apostle. James Kiefer writes:

James the son of Zebedee and his brother, John, were among the Twelve disciples of Our Lord. They, together with Peter, were privileged to behold the Transfiguration, to witness the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law and the raising of the daughter of Jairus, and to be called aside to watch and pray with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane on the night before Jesus’ death.

James and John were apparently from a higher social level than the average fisherman. Their father could afford hired servants, and John (assuming him to be identical with the “Beloved Disciple”) had connections with the high priest. Jesus nicknamed the two brothers the “Sons of Thunder”, perhaps meaning that they were headstrong, hot-tempered, and impulsive; and so they seem to be in two incidents reported in the Gospels. On one occasion, Jesus and the disciples were refused the hospitality of a Samaritan village, and James and John proposed to call down fire from heaven on the offenders. On another occasion, they asked Jesus for a special place of honor in the Kingdom, and were told that the place of honor is the place of suffering.

In about 42 A.D., shortly before Passover (Acts 12), James was beheaded by order of King Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great (who tried to kill the infant Jesus--Matthew 2), nephew of Herod Antipas (who killed John the Baptist--Mark 6--and examined Jesus on Good Friday--Luke 23), and father of Herod Agrippa II (who heard the defense of Paul before Festus--Acts 25). James was the first of the Twelve to suffer martyrdom, and the only one of the Twelve whose death is recorded in the New Testament.

James is often called James Major (meaning greater or elder) to distinguish him from other New Testament persons called James.

Let us pray: O gracious God, we remember before you today your servant and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the Name of Jesus Christ; and we pray that you will pour out upon the leaders of your Church that spirit of self-denying service by which alone they may have true authority among your people; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

This Saturday, Lee Runion’s Birdhouse Building Class starting at 10 a.m.!

We will host the Union of Black Episcopalians' (UBE) Youth Mission Trip to Galveston at St. Augustine’s on the 12th to the 14th of August 2011.

St. Augustine’s Feast Day is at the end of August. We will have a dance on Saturday, starting at 7 p.m. with a pot luck dinner. On Sunday, we will have a reception after the 9 a.m. Eucharist (Rite II).

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List. This is an important ministry. Our own St. Augustine wrote: “In prayer, there occurs a turning of the heart to Him who is always ready to give if we will but take what He gives.”

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

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