25 July 2024 - Feast of Saint James
Homily
There are several James in the New Testament. The one we are celebrating today is the brother of John and son of Zebedee. This James was one of the first martyrs. Herod had him put to death during the first great persecution against the Church, even before Peter's arrest. Along with his brother John, who was also a companion of Peter, he held a very special place in the public life of Jesus. Along with John, he was one of the first disciples to ask Jesus "Master, where are you staying? He was one of those whom Jesus took with him to the Mount of Transfiguration, to the room where he raised Jairus' daughter from the dead and, finally, to the Garden of Olives.