“LORD, SHOW US THE FATHER, AND WE SHALL BE SATISFIED” (Ps 19:5)

⌚FEAST OF SS. PHILIP AND JAMES (03 May 2018)

📕1 Cor 15:1-8; Ps 19:2-3, 4-5 (R.v.5a); John 14:6-14

The author of the Letter to the Hebrews encourages us thus, “Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith” (Heb 13:7). This is exactly what we do with the celebrations of the saints.

Certainly, our satisfaction in life can only come from our union with God. Philip helped us to have that understanding from the question he asked Jesus (cf. John 14:8). More than that, he helped us to make Jesus reveal his equality with the Father (cf. John 14:9ff).

Thenceforth, anyone who discovers Jesus discovers fulfilment, and Philip and James helped a lot of people to achieve that fulfilment.

It was Philip who invited Nathaniel to come and see Jesus (cf. John 1:45). With Andrew, he took the gentiles to Jesus (cf. John 12:22) and he was the one who helped the Ethiopian Eunuch to understand the scripture he was reading (cf. Acts 8:26ff).

On his part, tradition usually associate this James as the head of the Jerusalem Council which brought joy back to the faces of the gentile converts by freeing them from the burden of circumcision.

How much do you know God? Have you ever talked to people about him? Do you lead people to him or away from him?

May God give us the grace to emulate the virtues of Ss. Philip and James and work to build up God’s Kingdom on earth and, in the end, gain the salvation he has prepared for his people. Amen.

Have an enlightening and peaceful day ahead. Peace be with you.