​Resurrection  of  the  Lord  Parish

​​​ Saints Philip and James, Apostles

Diocesan Publication 

Call Philip the gospel’s “Answer Man.” “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathaniel asked Philip, who had proclaimed Jesus “the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets” (John 1:45). Jesus asked Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat" (John 6:5). Greeks brought Philip their request: “We would like to see Jesus” (John 12:21).  Philip’s answer to each question: bring people to Jesus!  At the Last Supper, finally, Philip had a request of his own: “Show us the Father!” (John 14:8).  Jesus had three last questions for Philip: “You still don’t know me?  How can you ask that?  Don’t you believe?”  And an answer: “I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (John 14:10). Today’s James is not John’s brother, Zebedee’s son, but, tradition says, author of the New Testament Letter of James, who died praying for his murderers in Jesus’ words :“Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Few historical details for either saint, but lessons aplenty: Bring every question we have and everybody we meet to Jesus; be, as James’ letter challenges, “doers of the word and not hearers only” (James 1:22).

— Peter Scagnelli

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