3rd May — Feast of Saints Philip and James: Reflection

Theme: LET EVERYTHING IN YOU POINT TOWARDS JESUS

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of two apostles, Philip and James. Their feasts are celebrated together not because they died on the same day or because they worked together, but because, according to tradition, their relics were kept under the altar of the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles in Rome, and from the day of its dedication in 565, these two apostles have been celebrated together.

In today’s gospel reading, Philip was shown asking Jesus to introduce them to the Father. One of the qualities that Philip was known for in the gospel was that of introducing people to Jesus, he was like a signpost pointing others towards Jesus.

In John 6:7–8, the lad who had five loaves of bread and two fish was brought to Jesus by Philip and Andrew. Also, in John 12:20–22, the Greeks that came to see Jesus were taken to Him by Philip and Andrew.

Dear friends, the life of every Christian should be a pointer towards Christ; it is the mission of every disciple of Jesus to lead people out of darkness to embrace the light of Christ. If someone who comes to us cannot know Jesus through us, then we have failed in our mission to take the good news to the ends of the earth. The life of Philip challenges us today to ask ourselves this simple question: do I lead people to Jesus or away from Jesus?

May God give us the grace and strength to use everything in us and every opportunity we have to lead people to Jesus. Amen.

Fr Isaac Chima