Today is the feast of St. James the Greater, one of Christ’s apostles, and of St. Christopher, whose name in Greek means “God-bearer.”
According to tradition, Christopher (before he had that name) was a physically powerful man who wanted to serve the greatest king in the world. After finding out that the devil had greater power than the human king he was serving, he gave his allegiance to the devil, until he discovered that Christ and the cross were more powerful than Satan. Receiving instruction in the Christian faith from a hermit, he ended up living a life of penance and charity by ferrying people back-and-forth across a river.
One day, a child came and asked to be carried across. As Christopher waded through the river with the child on his shoulders, he felt as if he were carrying the weight of the whole world. On the other side of the river, the child revealed Himself as Jesus Christ. That is why Christopher is called God-bearer. Christopher went on to evangelize many people in Asia Minor before he was martyred.
Like Christopher, we are all called to carry Christ in our hearts and bring Him to other people. May we too one day earn the enviable title of God-bearer. St. Christopher, pray for us!
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Author: Catherine Salgado
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