James and James

James the Greater

This morning's Gospel was Matt. 20: 20-28.  Here we see the sons of Zebedee, James and John, pester Jesus about giving them seats next to him: one on the right and one on the left.

James the Less

The story goes on.  Jesus gently scolds them (the other apostles are angry) for their chutzpah. He tells them that they'd have to undergo all the trials and tribulations He will be going through.  In other words, "No."

That story isn't what caught my attention.  I was wondering if this James is the one sometimes referred to as the "brother" of the Lord.  So I came home and googled.

There are two James in Jesus' life.  There is James the son of Zebedee, also called James the Greater, probably because he was older than the other James.  James the Less was Jesus' cousin.  That's why the Less is sometimes called the brother of the Lord.

James the Less is also called James the Just because of his just manner of handling people entrusted to him when he was Bishop of Jerusalem.  James the Greater is the one that Santiago de Compostela is named after.  He is the patron saint of Spain.

Both were apostles.

By the way, James and John were the sons of Zebedee.  What was their mother's name?

Mrs. Zebedee