Gospel of 25 July 2018

St. James, called the major, apostle, feast

Second letter of St. Paul the Apostle to Corinthians 4,7-15.
Brothers, we have a treasure in clay pots, so that it appears that this extraordinary power comes from God and not from us.
We are in fact troubled on all sides, but not crushed; we are upset, but not desperate;
persecuted, but not abandoned; hit, but not killed,
always and everywhere carrying the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also manifest itself in our body.
In fact, we who are alive are always exposed to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifest in our mortal flesh.
So that death works in us, but life in you.
Animated however by that same spirit of faith of which it is written: I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe and therefore we speak,
convinced that he who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and put us next to him together with you.
In fact, everything is for you, so that grace, even more abundant by a greater number, multiplies the hymn of praise to the glory of God.

Salmi 126(125),1-2ab.2cd-3.4-5.6.
When the Lord brought back the prisoners of Zion,
we seemed to dream.
Then our mouth opened to the smile,
our language melted into songs of joy.

Then it was said among the peoples:
"The Lord has done great things for them."
The Lord has done great things for us,
has filled us with joy.

Lord, bring our prisoners back,
like the streams of the Negheb.
Who sows in tears
will reap with jubilation.

In going, he leaves and cries,
bringing the seed to be thrown,
but in returning, he comes with jubilation,
carrying his sheaves.

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 20,20-28.
At that time the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her children approached Jesus and prostrated herself to ask him something.
He said to her, "What do you want?" He replied, "Tell these children of mine to sit one on your right and one on your left in your kingdom."
Jesus replied: «You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink? » They say to him, "We can."
And he added, "You will drink my cup; but it is not for me to grant that you sit on my right or on my left, but it is for those for whom it was prepared by my Father ».
The other ten, hearing this, became indignant with the two brothers;
but Jesus, calling them to himself, said: «The leaders of the nations, you know it, dominate over them and the great ones exercise power over them.
Not so will it have to be among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you will make himself your servant,
and whoever wishes to be the first among you will become your slave;
just like the Son of man, who did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life in ransom for many ».