Reflection on Today's Readings and the Feast of Saints Philip and James, Monday of 5th Week of Easter, Year B, May 3rd, 2021
Texts: 1Cor. 15:1-8; Ps. 19:2-5; John 14:6-14
Today we celebrate two saints, Philip and James. St. Philip was a native of Bethsaida. St. John says, "Philip came from the same town, Bethsaida, as Andrew and Peter" (John 1:44). He was one of the apostles. When Jesus met him, Jesus said, "follow me" (John 1:43). This is an invitation to be like Him. It means Philip should come and walk His path. Jesus has not stopped calling us to come and walk His path, to come and be like Him. Just like Philip let us respond wholeheartedly to the call of Jesus to follow Him, to be like Him, to walk His path. Philip was convinced that following Jesus Christ was the right thing, for he was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, the hope of Israel. After his encounter with Jesus, he met Nathaniel and he said to him thus: "we have found him of whom Moses in the Law and prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph, Nazareth" (John 1:45). We need to be convinced of our faith. Some of us are confused about our faith; they have no identity, they are neither Catholic nor the other. Such confused people move from one church to the other. When Nathaniel did not believe, Philip said, "come and see" (John 1:46c). This is an invitation to come and experience Jesus. Pazhayampallil says, "The invitation "Come and see" (John 1:39,46) continues to be sent out to all whom God calls to a priestly and religious life or life of consecration. Come and see: 'The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest" (Mt 9,37-38). Come and experience the special love of Jesus. Come and see 'How good and how pleasant it is, brothers dwelling in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head running down upon Aaron's beard, upon the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the heights of Sion. For there the Lord gives his blessings, life forever " (Ps. 132, 1-3).'" Come and see how good the Lord is, how mighty and glorious. Every day we are called to come and experience deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. We are also called to invite more people to come and experience Him.
Philip appeared to be a person who so much emphasized evidence and reason. Hence, he told Nathaniel to come and see. At the last supper, he was the one who asked Jesus to show them the Father and that they would be satisfied (John 14:8). Jesus replied to him thus: "I have been with you all this while, Philip, and you still do not know me? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father, so how can you say, 'show us the Father '" (John 14:9). This reminds us that the journey with Jesus is the journey of faith. We are to live by faith.
Jesus once put Philip's faith to the test. Before the miracle of the feeding of five thousand men, it is said, "Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, 'where can we buy some bread for this people to eat?' He said this only to put Philip to the test; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, 'Two hundred denarii would not buy enough to give them a little piece each.'" (John 6:5-7). This teaches us that there are some challenges or situations in life that come to us as tests of faith. Let us repose our confidence in Jesus and trust in His providence; with Him nothing is impossible.
St. James was one of the pillars of the early Church, along with John and Peter. He was the son of Alphaeus and the cousin of our Lord (Mark 3:18; Mtt. 13:55). He is distinguished from James the brother of John by the addition of 'the younger' or 'the less' to his name (Mark 15:40). James is a sign that Jesus was able to have influence in His family. We can say that with Jesus charity begins at home. Paul, in today's first reading, tells us that James was favoured with special appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ after resurrection; he had the same privilege with Simon Peter.
James the younger played an important role at the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:13-21). His speech was the resolution of the council. He says, "My verdict is, then, that instead of making things more difficult for gentiles who turn to God, we should send them a letter telling them merely to abstain from anything polluted by idols, from illicit marriages, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood" (Acts 15: 19-20).
The letter of James that constitutes the part of Scripture is believed to have been written by James the younger. The letter shows his interest in the practical aspect of faith; he emphasizes that faith without works is dead (2:17). He also had interest in the poor (2:1-13). The letter shows him as the man who believed in action, bringing to bear in action what one believes.
Today we are to reflect on their faith and embrace their virtues. We are to seek for their intercession as we celebrate them today. With them we have hope that we can make it to heaven.
Lord Jesus Christ, help us to follow you and grow day by day into your image. Saints Philip and James, pray for us. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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