Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Continuing the presentation of Jesus chosen Apostles Pope Benedict XVI during the audience on Wednesday 28 June reflected on Saint James the Less always indicated as "son of Alpheus", often identified with another James called "the Less", the son of a woman called Mary who could be Mary of Cleopha. He too was from Nazareth and probably a relation of Jesus. “Of the latter the Book of the Acts underlines the eminent role played in the Church in Jerusalem” Pope Benedict XVI recalled. “Saint Paul, who attributes to him a specific apparition of the Risen Lord, on the occasion of his visit to Jerusalem mentions him even before Cephas-Peter describing him as the "pillar" of that Church equal to him. Following this he was considered by the first Judeo-Christians the main point of reference”.
“Scholars discuss the question of the identification of these two figures with the same name, James son of Alpheus and James ‘brother of the Lord" the Pope continued recalling that the Acts of the Apostles show a "James" who played an important role in the early Church. “His most important act was an intervention with regard to the question of the difficult relationship between Christians of Jewish origin and those of pagan origin: on this matter with Peter he helped to overcome, or better, to integrate the original Jewish dimension of Christianity with the necessity not to impose on converted pagans the obligation to obey Mosaic law … In practice it was a question of adhering to a few prohibitions of Mosaic law, considered important. In this way two significant and complementary results were obtained, both still valid: on the one hand the inseparable bond which connects Christianity and Judaism as its mother religion ever living and valid; on the other Christians of pagan origin were allowed to keep their sociological identity which they would have lost if forced to observe Mosaic ceremonial precepts”.
The death of James was decided by Anan the High Priest, who took the opportunity of the interval between the deposing of a Roman Procurator Festo and the arrival of the successor Albino to order his stoning in the year 62. The name of this James is connected with the Letter which bears his name and takes first place among what are referred to as the Catholic Letters, that is letters addressed to many Church rather than one in particular. “The letter is important - the Pope said Papa -, it stresses the need not to reduce faith to merely a verbal or abstract declaration, but to express it concretely with good works. He calls us to persevere in trials accepted with joy and confident prayer to obtain from God the gift of wisdom which will help us understand that the real values of life lie not in passing riches, but rather in sharing what we have with the poor and the needy”.
The Letter of James teaches that faith “must be realised in life, above all in love of neighbour, the poor especially” and it urges us to “put ourselves and everything we do in the hands of God… not to think we can plan our life in an autonomous and interested manner, but rather to make space for the fathomless will of God who knows what is truly good for us”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 30/6/2006, righe 40, parole 557)
