Today we celebrate the feast of two apostles of the Lord – James the Less (probably a cousin of Jesus) and Philip of Bethsaida. Both were instrumental in the spread of the Christian faith from its very first days after Pentecost.
James ruled the Church of Jerusalem, wrote an epistle and converted many of the Jewish people to the faith. He led an austere life and suffered martyrdom in the year 62.
Philip was called by Jesus himself and brought Nathanael to Christ. He was present at the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He was approached by Hellenistic Jews from Bethsaida to introduce them to Jesus after the resurrection. Just before the Passion, Jesus answered Philip's query to show them the Father. He was present in the Upper Room awaiting the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. He later preached in Greece and was crucified upside down at Hierapolis under Emperor Domatian.
Our first reading today from the letter of Paul to the Corinthians relates the facts of our faith: belief in the gospel – primarily that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to many beginning with Peter and the Twelve (including Philip and James) and lastly of all to himself, Paul. It is this faith that has been faithfully transmitted throughout the ages by the working of the Holy Spirit within the community gathered around and filled with the presence of Christ the Risen Lord.
In the gospel passage we read about the dialogue Jesus had with Philip about the Father. One of Jesus' most important tasks was to make it very clear to his Apostles, and through them to all his followers, the absolute, real, undeniable, unquestionable connection between himself and his Father. "The Father and I are one!" THE FATHER AND JESUS ARE ONE! " They are "consubstantial" – though they are each their own Person. Jesus tells us that the Father is greater than he – not because he created Jesus out of nothing: but because he is eternally his Father, who is eternally loving him, and he is eternally returning that love – which love is the Holy Spirit. The eternal exchange of love between Father and Son by the working of the Holy Spirit is an accurate definition of the Blessed Trinity itself; God, as it were, in himself.
And so Jesus does his best to gently explain to Philip this very important point!
We rejoice that Philip and James and the rest went out and brought the message of Christ and the gospel to all the world! Life in God, life in the Church – anticipating eternal life in our Father's Kingdom is a very exciting thing, the news of which we cannot and should not keep to ourselves!
Let us share the Good News with someone personally today!
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