25/07/2026
Today's Gospel(July 25, 2026)
Matthew 20:20-28
St. James, Apostle,Martyr 🔴 (Feast Day)
At that time: The mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to Jesus, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my chalice, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Today’s Reflection:
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them”. Why humans seek power? With power comes influence. With influence comes relevance. Just nearly all humans want to remain relevant. It didn’t come surprising to Jesus when the mother of James and John brought her two sons to him in order to occupy seats of power. Jesus uses that opportunity to call the attention of his apostles to the mundane pursuit of power which is not for the purpose of the kingdom. We exercise power at different levels of our existence. We are not to follow the world in the existence of our power.
ST JAMES, AP. (FEAST)
Today we celebrate the feast of James, the son of Zebedee and the brother of John the apostle and evangelist. He was present, with Peter and John, at the special miracles worked by the Lord, at his transfiguration and in the garden of Gethsemane. He was the first of the apostles to be put to death (see Acts 12:1-3) around the year 42.
Let Us Pray:
Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have you present so that I do not forget you, you know how easily I abandon you.
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak, and I need your strength, that I may not fall so often, stay with me, Lord, for you are my life, and without you, I am without fervor.
Stay with me, Lord, for you are my light, and without you, I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me your will.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love you very much, and always be in your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if you wish me to be faithful to you.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for you, a nest of love. Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes; death, judgment, eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need you. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need you, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
I will love you with all my heart while on earth and continue to love you perfectly during all eternity. Amen.
Have a good day and God bless.
