By T.K. Wilson (Rated G)
James, the son of Alpheus, was one of the original Twelve Apostles called by Christ at the start of his ministry. According to tradition, he is one of Jesus’s cousins or half-brothers and brother of St. Jude. He is called “the Lesser ” or “The Just ” to avoid confusion with James son of Zebedee – though even this is disputed!
Whoever this James was, it is agreed that he was a wonderworker of great faith who spent so much time in prayer that the skin on his knees became callused and hard like camel feet. Some sources also attest that he was a Nazarite and a vegetarian, only consuming meat on occasions like Passover. He was well respected as a righteous man in Jerusalem, and even devout Jews came to him for healing. However, his preaching caused him to run afoul of the Sanhedrin, who dragged him up to the parapet above Herod’s temple and demanded he recant his faith. When he refused, he was thrown down and he was stoned to death, praying like his Master that his murderers be forgiven. Even then, his fellow men of Israel sought to honor his good life and gave him an honorable burial with a marker. Later, they attributed the destruction of Jerusalem to the murder of this just man.
St. James the Lesser labored for his Lord in obscurity, very few knowing his real identity. Let us be willing to do the same!
Sources:
LogoSophia Magazine 
Thank you!
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