MATTHEW 20:20-28 TRUE GREATNESS IS FOUND IN SERVICE

Year A, Saturday - Feast of Saint James, Apostle

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint James the Apostle, one of the first disciples Jesus called to follow Him. Like the other apostles, James was not perfect. In today's Gospel, his mother asks Jesus to give her sons places of honor in His Kingdom. She, like many others, thought greatness meant power, privilege, and recognition.

Jesus gently corrects that way of thinking. He tells them that greatness in His Kingdom is measured, not by how many people serve us, but by how willing we are to serve others. "Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant." These words completely change the way we understand success.

Saint James learned this lesson well. He began as a man who desired honor, but he became a faithful servant of Christ. According to tradition, he was the first of the Apostles to give his life for the Gospel. The one who once sought a place of honor eventually found true greatness by laying down his life in love and service.

Perhaps today's Gospel invites us to ask ourselves: How do I measure greatness? Is it by success, recognition, influence, or by the love and service I offer to others? Every day gives us opportunities to serve—in our families, our parish, our workplace, or even through small acts of kindness that no one else notices.

Jesus Himself gives us the perfect example: "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many." If we want to follow Christ and the example of Saint James, then we must learn that the path to greatness always passes through humble service. The people who leave the deepest mark on the world are not those who sought recognition, but those who quietly gave themselves away in love.

With Love and Prayers

Your Co-Traveler