Word to the Wise
Monday, May 3, 2021 - May 3 - Sts. Philip and James, Apostles
[1 Cor 15:1-8 and John 14:6-14]After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles....[1 Cor.] 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?"
The choice of scriptures to be proclaimed on the feast of the apostles, Philip and James, seems based on the fact that they are mentioned in each of the two readings. Philip manages to have speaking parts in the Gospel According to John (6:5, 7 and 14:8), one of which is featured in today's gospel scripture. The James in the first scripture may or may not be the apostle! In any case, Catholic tradition refers to him as James the Lesser in contrast with the brother of John, the sons of Zebedee. The confusion is between the term, James "the brother of the Lord" who became a leader in the Jerusalem community and James, son of Alpheus, mentioned as an apostle. In any case, it is the apostle we celebrate today.
The importance of these two figures comes from their membership in the Twelve, the apostles whom Jesus chose and on whose initial preaching the foundation of the church was laid. Philip, at least, demonstrates that even an apostle could have a struggle to understand the meaning of Jesus' resurrection. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, these two men, like the other apostles, became part of the faith we profess in "one, holy, catholic and APOSTOLIC" church. The celebration of their feast day is a reminder of that truth. AMEN