397 part ii: meditations for more solemn feasts FOR THE FEAST OF ST. JAMES [THE GREATER], APOSTLE Before Holy Communion 1. “Then came to [H]im the mother of the sons of Zebedee … adoring and asking something of [H]im” (Mt 20:20). Look at the mother who beseeched on behalf of her sons not without mighty adoration, and yet she met with refusal, because she asked for things that revealed a desire for eminence and the motive for her request proceeded from an evil passion. As the wise Chrysostom184 observes, the sons of Zebedee intended to obtain through their mother the highest position in the heavenly Kingdom. He says: “They wished, since they had heard that the disciples should sit upon twelve thrones, to obtain the primacy of that seat [(cf. Mt 19:28)], and they knew that they would be preferred before the rest with the exception of Peter. [B] ut fearing that Peter was preferred before them, they dared to say, ‘Grant that one of us may sit on Thy right hand and the other on Thy left’” (cf. Mt 20:21).185 Moreover, according to him, the reason why they strove after the honors was because they had not yet received the Holy Spirit.186 As for you, therefore, when you approach the Lord, be more cautious in stating your requests and ask only for the things regarding eternal salvation, and not temporal advantages. 184 The manuscript of Inspectio Cordis erroneously gives the name: “Hieronymus” (Jerome); cf. IC crit. ed., p. 278 (footnote “a”). 185 Cornelius à Lapide, The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide: S. Matthew’s Gospel — Chaps. X to XXI, Trans. Thomas W. Mossman, 4th ed., vol. 2, John Grant, Edinburgh 1908, p. 382 (Ch. XX, 21). Cf. Cornelii a Lapide, Commentaria in Scripturam Sacram: Commentaria in Evangelium S. Matthæum, vol. 15, Ludovicum Vives, Bibliopolam Editorem, Parisiis 1891, p. 448 (Ch. XIX, 8). Cf. Chrysostomus, Homiliarum in Matthæum: Homilia LXV al. LXVI (Matth. XX, 17-28), in: PG, vol. 58, Ateliers catholiques du Petit-Montrouge, Paris 1862, p. 619 (n. 665). Note: The Latin translation of this text of St. John Chrysostom in PG, vol. 58, p. 619, is somewhat different; see: IC crit. ed., p. 278 (footnote 64). 186 Cf. Joannes Chrysostomus, Homiliarum in Matthæum: Homilia LXV al. LXVI (Matth. XX, 17-28), in: PG, vol. 58, Ateliers catholiques du Petit- Montrouge, Paris 1862, p. 619 (n. 665): this text can be found in IC crit. ed., p. 278 (footnote 65).
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