Word to the Wise
Tuesday, May 3, 2016 - May 3 - Sts. Philip and James, Apostles
[1 Cor 15:1-8 and John 14:6-14]TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016 STS. PHILIP AND JAMES, apostles [1 Corinthians 15:1-8 and John 14:6-14] 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." [John] Philip is teamed with James, son of Alphaeus [sometimes called "James the Less" to distinguish him from the other more prominent James]. Both were called by Jesus to be apostles, but we know nothing about this James other than the name of his father and that he became an apostle, one of the Twelve. Philip, on the other hand, has several speaking parts in the Gospel of John, so one of those parts is featured today. It comes from the Farewell Discourse which we have been seeing for the past week or so. Philip serves, along with Thomas, as a foil for Jesus to explain what he is saying about "going to the Father." Thomas gets an explanation of "the way" and Philip gets an explanation of "the Father." In Philip's case, Jesus tells him that he (Jesus) and the Father are united in one another so that Philip is looking at the Father. This was probably too much for Philip to understand at the time. It is still a lot for us to understand after 2,000 years of reflection. Has Jesus been with us for so long a time and we still do not know him? We do know a lot more than Philip did at the time, but the mystery of Jesus Christ is still challenging us to learn more and more. We are in good company with Philip. AMEN