Minor Festival -- Festival of St. James the Greater, Apostle (July 25, 2021)

                Lutheran worship is liturgical.  While that often refers to an order of worship, it can also refer to the calendar of the Church Year.  The Church Year includes major festivals, such as Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, etc...  On Sunday, July 25, we recognize a minor festival--the Festival of St. James the Greater, Apostle.

               James was the son of Zebedee and the brother of St. John.  James and John were known as the “Sons of Thunder,” which reveals their passionate nature (sometimes misguided).  James was one of the three apostles who was privileged to witness Jesus’ most intimate moments in his ministry (e.g., the raising of Jairus’ daughter, Jesus’ transfiguration, Jesus’ sufferings in Gethsemane).  After Jesus’ resurrection, James remained in Jerusalem to proclaim the gospel.  He was also the first of the apostles to be martyred for his faith, being “put to death by the sword” (Acts 12:1,2).  We pray that our passion and zeal for our Lord is as evident as it was in James and that we would suffer all, even death, rather than forsake him who will never forsake us.