The Church has declared this the feast day of St. James the Apostle, and today’s Gospel contains one of stories associated with James (and his brother, John) that easily stick with us. James and John’s mother comes to Jesus, asking for favors for her sons. She asks that they be given the seats at Jesus’ right and left hand when he comes into his Kingdom.

It’s pretty much implied that the two put their mother up to asking Jesus for the favor, as they were right there with her and eagerly answered Jesus’ questions about the request. And the other Apostles were annoyed with the two brothers, not the mother, after the conversation.

Jesus tells them that they don’t fully realize what they are asking for. “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” he asks. They reply that they can, but he then says “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

James does indeed die a bloody death (the chalice Jesus is referring to), as he was likely the first of the Apostles to be martyred. Acts 12 tells us King Herod had him killed by the sword. No other Apostle’s martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament.

Jesus turns the situation into a teachable moment for all of his followers, including all of us today. He says that, unlike the way other leaders act in the world, lording it over their followers, his disciples are to be servants. I imagine some, or most, of them were not too pleased to hear that. Really, it goes against human nature. Who grows up naturally wanting to serve others? Not too many of us. Receiving honors, accolades and power are enticing experiences for human beings. Jesus turns those ideas on their heads. He says to be great is to serve.

Some people do derive real pleasure from putting others’ needs before their own in some situations, but to consistently make that your way of thinking and behaving takes a deeply spiritual change, a conversion of the heart.

If every Christian in the world reflected on just these words of Jesus each day, and put them into practice, how different would our world be? Imagine if all leaders were striving to be humble and lay down their lives for their followers, never seeking power and prestige? Imagine if all who were not leaders, per se, were seeking at all times only to better their fellow women, men and children and not themselves.

Just imagine.