Feast of Saint James, Apostle

Lectionary: 605 

We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.

We can only imagine the chagrin that came over the faces of Saints James and John when they remembered today's gospel passage: "What were we thinking? What did she think Jesus would do to that incredible request?"

At the time, of course, they really had no idea of what would happen in Jerusalem. The Lord's predictions about his being arrested, tried, convicted, tortured, and crucified made no sense to them. His rising from the dead? That must be poetry. Surely, it's nothing we should take literally. The dead do not come back to life. Everybody knows that! It's just nonsense. Everything will be alright. Do you suppose we can sit on his right and left when he comes into this kingdom. There's no harm in asking!" 

The day came when James and John, like the Saints Peter and Paul, had to admit, "we are earthen vessels." Made of dirt, like Adam, as God had said in the Garden of Eden. We thought we were better than that, and the fact that we thought it only proved how foolish mud can be. 

...that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.

When he taught us, "Hallowed be thy name," he was talking about God and no one else! 

The Apostles did not live to see the entire world become disciples of Jesus. We're not expected to live to see that day either. But we know it will come. That knowledge is our faith and it's just as sure as the hope that encourages us and the love that moves us. We act with confidence despite the discouragement that comes at us from all sides, along with the frustrations of failure and the feeling of futility. 

Sometimes we're discouraged.  Sometimes we're as sluggish as mud. And then we get up and go anyway, because we're needed and expected and we love the Lord.