A Sermon for St James

The Cathedral of Santiago De Compostela - Galicia, Spain

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Well friends, today is the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, but it also happens to be the day after the Feast of our patron saint — the Feast of St. James the Greater.

Who Was St. James?

As it says toward the end of our bulletin, St. James — who was the brother of St. John — was a fisherman called by Jesus along the Sea of Galilee and was known for his zest for life. Jesus nicknamed him and John "the Sons of Thunder," which is one of the more epic nicknames in The Bible.

Eventually, James became the first of the Twelve Apostles to be martyred for his faith, executed under Herod Agrippa. Today he is honored as the patron saint of pilgrims and of Spain — which we'll get to in a moment.

The Scallop and the Sword

Historically, St. James is depicted with a scallop shell and/or a sword. The scallop represents the famous Camino pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Its converging lines symbolize believers journeying from diverse paths toward God, and specifically toward the cathedral where St. James's relics are said to rest.

Although it was unfortunately used as a symbol to support violence, the sword is actually meant to mark St. James's martyrdom — a reminder of his courageous sacrifice as the first apostolic martyr.

Our Parish's Name

As I've read through our three-hundred-year church history, there is actually some ambiguity about whether this was, in fact, the St. James we were named for. There was another St. James in the Bible known as St. James "the Lesser" — not because he was somehow morally or spiritually deficient, but because he was younger and much shorter than our own St. James. It’s also possible our parish was named in honor of James Island itself, which takes its name from King James II of England.

At some point in our history, however, a consensus developed that we were named after St. James the Greater—and that is the story we've told ever since. You can see the scallop and the sword in our letterhead, as well as in the logo etched into the glasswork of our event center when it was built at the turn of the century.

Although it was originally meant to mark his martyrdom, the sword of St. James was later used by a twelfth-century Spanish military group known as the Order of Santiago. Their core mission was fighting Muslim forces in the centuries-long campaign to reclaim Spain and Portugal from Islamic rule during the crusades. Despite their violent and certainly problematic actions, they also protected pilgrims along the Camino and provided medical care for the poor. As any student of history knows, the more you learn about history, the more complicated it becomes.

But for me, the scallop is what takes precedence, and it emphasizes the Christian spiritual journey. We also have a lot of shells here in the Lowcountry, and it marks the connection we have with water — a connection St. James had himself as a fisherman. It's also common to use a scallop-shaped shell to baptize people with, because of water's connection with the Holy Spirit.

Today's Gospel: A Mother's Request

In today's Gospel, however, we don't hear anything about a scallop or a sword. What we hear instead is the story of a mother who wants the best for her sons.

Not every saint had a mom who was willing to take on Jesus and lobby him on behalf of her kids, but James and John certainly did. And I can't help but wonder if Jesus didn't call them "Sons of Thunder" because of the tenacity they inherited from their mother.

When Jesus asks them if they're able to drink from the same cup as him, they immediately say "yes" — but they don't understand what exactly they've said yes to. Jesus says they will indeed follow him, which foreshadows their martyrdom, but he cautions them about seeking "greatness." It turns out that, for Jesus, greatness isn't about power or influence. It's about servanthood.

Both James and John discover what that servanthood is like. Both of them are present for key moments in Jesus's ministry — including the Transfiguration and the Garden of Gethsemane — and both of them are ultimately killed for their faith. James was the first and is known as "the Protomartyr of the Apostles."

From Fisherman to Patron Saint of Spain

How James became associated with Spain and the Camino is actually really interesting.

According to extra-biblical tradition, after Pentecost the apostles divided up the known world to preach the Gospel. James is said to have traveled west to the Roman province of Hispania, modern-day Spain and Portugal.

His mission was largely unsuccessful — tradition says he only converted a handful of locals — so he returned to Jerusalem, where Herod had him beheaded.

After he was killed, legend says his disciples took his body, placed it on a boat made of stone, and guided it across the Mediterranean. The boat washed ashore in Galicia, in northwestern Spain, where his followers buried him in secret.

For nearly 800 years, it was said, the grave was forgotten. Then, around 813 AD, a hermit named Pelagius saw strange lights hovering over a field. The local bishop investigated and announced that they had found the tomb of St. James. The location was named Santiago de Compostela — Santiagomeaning "Saint James" in Spanish, and Compostela likely coming from the Latin campus stellae, or "field of stars."

All of this, of course, falls into the category of myth and legend. But St. James was certainly a real person and he was in fact the first apostolic martyr. The story of his post-mortem journey to Spain speaks to St. James's endurance, his influence, and his impact on the region long after he died.

Endurance Here on James Island

Here on James Island, we know a thing or two about endurance as well — fires, wars, upheavals, and schisms; three hundred and six years as a congregation in a changing tidal landscape, with our current sanctuary being the sixth on this site. We are here, in many ways, because of what Mother Teresa called "the seeds of the saints" — the endurance of those who have come before us.

A Call to Servanthood

But as we continue to live into our mission as the Episcopal Church on James Island, I want to invite us to reflect on the words of Jesus this morning, words which remind us of our collective call to be servants. Spiritual “greatness” isn't about worldly power or influence — it's about laying our lives down for the sake of the Gospel, offering up something of ourselves for the Kingdom of God.

As we continue to grow and revitalize our campus, I pray that we will use the amazing resources that we have been given for the sake of God and for the sake of others. I pray that we will continue to embody a spirit of servanthood in all that we do, and that we will tell others of the greatest love the world has ever known.

Friends, on this feast day of our patron saint, may we honor his memory and carry on his legacy. May we continue to follow the One who has called us to become "fishers of people," and to persevere until all come to know the love of their Maker.

And wherever you are on your spiritual journey, know that you are always welcome here. Together we walk a pilgrim's way — not the way of St. James, but the Way of Jesus, who described himself as "the way, the truth, and the life."

Friends, Christianity is not a destination — it is, in fact, a journey. And faith isn't just a belief; it's also a practice.

So may we continue to practice our faith together as we walk the Way of Jesus in the name of St. James, and may we continue to draw others into the abundant life of Christ as we live into our mission as the Episcopal Church on James Island.

Amen.