FEAST OF ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I chose you from the world
to go out and bear fruit,
fruit that will last,
says the Lord. JN 15:16

2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-15

My Soul's Beloved,

Today St. Paul reminds us that although we as human beings are limited, the work of God and the Word of God in us, our Catholic faith, and the fact that we are members of Your Body, make us, although finite, a divine repository of the Treasures of God and of His Kingdom. The Holy Spirit working in us makes it possible for us to walk the Way that You pointed out to us. To carry our cross daily with grace and courage as You did and to persevere to the end. You gave us an example of what it means to be Your disciples. We are to empty ourselves of all that inhibits us, holds us back, our fears, worries, and anxieties about whether or not we will succeed in being faithful witnesses. Rather, we must place our whole lives in service of the Gospel and readily accept all the suffering that comes with it and all the supernatural joy that we are considered worthy to suffer for Your sake and the sake of the Kingdom.

People are hungry and thirsty for the things of heaven, and we who are baptized are called to carry out the mission entrusted to us to share the Good News that brings life, light, and joy to a sinful, sorrowful, and troubled world. We cannot keep this treasure to ourselves, but we must share it no matter the cost. And it will cost us something because we must die to ourselves daily. We must crucify the faults, sinful tendencies, and weaknesses in us, and when we stumble and fall as we often will, we must obtain healing and pardon in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Beloved, You have made provision for us to be strengthened with heavenly manna, food for our pilgrim journey. Grant us the grace to partake of this supernatural Bread, Holy Communion, daily if possible, and if not, as often as we can, so we will not fall by the wayside and perish.

We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – I believed, and therefore I spoke – we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of God.

PSALM 125(126):1-6

Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,
it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
on our lips there were songs.

The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels
the Lord worked for them!’
What marvels the Lord worked for us!
Indeed we were glad.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage
as streams in dry land.
Those who are sowing in tears
will sing when they reap.

They go out, they go out, full of tears,
carrying seed for the sowing:
they come back, they come back, full of song,
carrying their sheaves.

Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

MATTHEW 20:20-28