Jesus asked his disciples, James and John, whether they were able to drink the chalice which he himself was to drink. Spontaneously, it seems, they answered "Yes". As yet they did not, of course, realize what "drinking my chalice" might mean or entail - they obviously could not see so far into the future, but that did not curtail their generous response. James would drink Jesus' chalice by being the first Apostle to be martyred. John, on the other hand, according to tradition, would drink the chalice by living to a very old age and continuing to witness to Jesus for many generations. One brother witnessed to Jesus by a "red" martyrdom, the martyrdom of blood, while the other witnessed to Jesus by a "white" martyrdom, the martyrdom of a life lived in utter fidelity to the Lord.

Both James and John are models of perfect Christian love. During the last several years, men, women and children have, in very public ways, followed the path of James, whereas most of us must learn patiently to follow the path of John.