July 25, St. James 

Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.-- Psalm 126:5

Mass readings: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 / Matthew 20:20-28

Consider the Birds!

The Eagles, a rock band, recorded a song (''Busy Being Fabulous'') about a woman who's so eager to ''drink wine from your winner's cup,'' she doesn't notice her children growing up. Self-importance and self-centeredness spell her downfall. I observed the antithesis of this one summer when cardinals nested in my rose bushes. The mother made countless trips collecting twigs for the nest, spent long hours incubating her eggs, and then gave herself completely to the hatchlings.

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells the apostles ''whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant.'' In another place, Jesus tells us to consider the birds of the air. There are lessons to be learned from them, lessons about what true greatness really is.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for desiring attention so much that we're inattentive to the needs of others.