Privileged Moments

Today, July 25, is the feast of St. James, Apostle. The following is a homily that I gave to the postnovices, young Salesians, when I myself was a newly ordained priest (not even one month old!), way back in July 25, 2002, at the feast of St. James.

We are witnesses each day of the wondrous works of Jesus. Perhaps in our whole life, as religious, the year of the novitiate is among the most significant. Even those who are not in the religious or consecrated life may pinpoint events which strike them as extraordinary. But through all these we affirm that which makes them special: we see the presence of Christ in these. Privileged? Yes, we can say that.

That is what sets St. James apart from the other apostles. Privilege was given to him, along with Peter and John. He did not ask for it but he was witness to the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, the resuscitation of the daughter of Jairus, the transfiguration of Jesus, the agony at Gethsemane—in other words, important events in the life of Jesus.

Contrast this to what his mother asked for, which Jesus could not grant. But then, what could Jesus assure them? A martyr’s death and a life of service. That is what became of James: an apostle and martyr, greater privileges than what had been given to him at first. And yet we can put these together. The experience he had with Jesus—those privileged moments—gave him the strength, the courage, to take the cup of martyrdom and drink of it.

We experience the same thing here. Life as a religious would not always be rosy. It is not a fairy tale for we also experience low points in life. But what will keep us going are those prized moments we have with Jesus: the peak experiences, perhaps including even the moments of pain and suffering. And thus we can say: we can drink the cup.

(25 July 2002)