Friends love to communicate often…

>> Close relationships always seek for intimacy and closeness.

 

This is our common understanding and experience with respect to Human Friendship.

 

 

The same principle holds good for Divine Friendship too.

>> The Lord loves us & seeks intimacy with us…

… and we who love the Lord, also wish to be closer to Him!

 

 

But do we really know what we are asking for, when we say, “we want to be closer to Him”?

 

 

A mother ‘always’ (hopefully the word “always” still holds good in our society which is sadly losing its way, with respect to traditional values and ethics)

… seeks for the good of her child.

 

 

The Gospel of the Day, presents one such caring mother, who aspires and seeks the best for her children.

 

The mother of Apostles James and John, requests the Lord to grant her children a privileged place in the Kingdom. (Mt 20: 20-21)

 

In her tenderness and affection as a mother, she sought her children be always close to the Lord…

>> But the Lord replies…. “You do not know what you are asking”! (Mt 20: 22)

 

Did she really know what it meant to be ‘Close to the Lord’?

 

And what about us?

>> Do I really know what it means to be ‘close to the Lord’?

 

 

St James enjoyed a privileged place in the Band of the Apostles of Jesus.

 

He was in the Core Group… one of the Three – Peter and John being the other two…

… who had the opportunity to be with the Lord in some of His special and extraordinary moments.

>> Raising the dead daughter of Jairus…

>> Transfiguration on the mountain top….

>> Moments of praying and agony in the Garden of Gethsemane….

 

James was indeed physically close to the Lord..

>> But the Lord today invites James and his brother John…his mother…the disciples…

… and each one of us…to really realize the meaning, of asking to be closer to Him.

 

 

Being close to the Lord means…

… making changes in our lifestyle, to be in accord with the Will of God!

>> Look at the lives of St Joseph… St Paul… St Peter…St Matthew

 

Being close to the Lord means…

… To get out of comfort zones &taking risks in life, for Christ’s sake!

>> Look at the lives of the Good Samaritan…Nicodemus…Simon of Cyrene

 

Being close to the Lord means…

… giving up a sinful life and amending our ways to seek for holiness!

>> Look at the lives of Zacheaus, the Woman caught in adultery, the Samaritan Woman, the Good Thief

 

Being close to the Lord means…

… embracing sufferings that come our way, seeing the Providence of God!

>> Look at the lives of Mother Mary……St John the Baptist….St Stephen…. St Paul

 

 

In asking to be close to the Lord, we also say that…

… Yes Lord, I will share in your cup of suffering.

… Yes Lord, I will join you on the way of the Cross

… Yes Lord, I will unite with your death on the Cross!

 

 

The mother of John and James realized this…

>> That’s why we find her….at the Foot of the Cross (Mt 27:56)

 

The Mother of James and John understood.

>> She got close to Jesus.

>> She remained till the end.

>> She drank the Cup!

 

 

John, also realized this…that’s we find him… at the foot of the Cross (Jn 19: 26-27)

St John understood.

>> He got close to Jesus.

>> He remained till the end.

>> He drank the Cup!

 

 

James also realised this… that’s why we find hi… killed by the sword, in witness to Christ, His Master (Acts 12:2)

 

St James understood.

>> He got close to Jesus.

>> He remained till the end.

>> He drank the Cup!

 

 

The Lord also promises..

He who shares my cup…also shares my Glory!

>> He who shares my cross..also shares my Rising!

 

 

The Apostle James, went close to the Lord… drank the Cup…

… and he shares in the Joy of the Lord

 

 

Today, he intercedes and invites and beckons us, to come closer to the Lord…

… and partake in the Lord’s Joy and Glory!

 

 

Shall we also seek to be close…really close…to our Jesus, our Beloved Friend?

 

 

Happy Feast of the Apostle James!

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!