FEAST OF SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES MAY 3, 2021

MASS READINGS:

A reading of the holy Gospel according to John 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

REFLECTION

I like St Philip. It is so easy to see a movie, read a book, watch The History Channel, hear a press report, or even a homily and second guess the main character. Sometimes because we know how the story ends we are certain we would act and say things so differently. However, many of us probably are "Philips" in our own encounters with God. Our patient Father waits for us to have that encounter with Him so that we know who we are and who He is.

There is a book by John O'Hurley, It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump: a book about his dog, Betty, who is a rescue dog. She is a mix between a dachshund and a black labrador retriever. After missing the bed with one leap, she reevaluated the situation and figured out how to join her master by jumping up on a bench to the bed. The height of the bed was twice her own but she knew where she would find love. And yet it was okay to miss the bed, miss the goal, a second, third or even a fourth time.

Yes, St Philip witnessed the miracles, listened to the teachings, felt the charisma that drew him to Jesus, but yet it took him a long time to realize who Jesus really was. When Jesus asked Philip where they should buy bread for the multitude to eat, St Philip answered in a one dimensional response, exclaiming how expensive it would be. God had chosen him and Philip would ask, not understand, fail, or even be embarrassed when Jesus answered, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9a).

Don't ever give up on asking for holiness in the name of Jesus. Holiness and our subsequent apostolate are a gift of God. Ask for the greatest gift --to love like God. Learn and live the PAPA spirituality.

God Bless You