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”Philip and James”
from the Maestà (detail) by Duccio 1308-11 |
Readings for the Feast of Sts. Philip and James [1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
I am reminding you, brothers and sisters,
of the Gospel I preached to you,
which you indeed received and in which you also stand.
Through it you are also being saved,
if you hold fast to the word I preached to you,
unless you believed in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
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 Cephas, then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more
than five hundred brothers and sisters at once,
most of whom are still living,
though some have fallen asleep.
After that he appeared to James,
then to all the Apostles.
Last of all, as to one born abnormally,
he appeared to me.
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Commentary on 1 Cor 15:1-8
In this passage we find Paul addressing the flagging faith in the resurrection expressed by some of those in Corinth. He uses what is probably a creedal statement to express the official belief of the Church, and then speaks of eyewitness events surrounding Jesus’ resurrection.
Unfortunately there is no documentation in the Gospels for his reference to either Jesus’ appearance to James (nor do we know to which James he is referring) or to the 500 believers. He concludes in humility, reminding them that he also saw the Risen Lord, although in lesser circumstances. (“Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.”)
CCC: 1 Cor 15:3-5 186; 1 Cor 15:3-4 639, 652; 1 Cor 15:3 519, 601, 619, 624; 1 Cor 15:4-8 642; 1 Cor 15:4 627; 1 Cor 15:5 552, 641; 1 Cor 15:7-8 857; 1 Cor 15:8 659
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5
R. (5) Their message goes out through all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day;
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
or
R. Alleluia.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 19:2-3, 4-5
Psalm 19 is a hymn of praise. In these opening strophes, the psalmist rejoices in God’s visible hand, revealed in all creation. It is the first of two themes expressed in the psalm (the other is in praise of the law). While no word of God announces his presence, his glory is revealed in the creation of all things.
CCC: Ps 19:2-5 299; Ps 19:2 326
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Gospel: John 14:6-14
Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
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.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
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Commentary on Jn 14:6-14
In this passage from St. John’s Gospel, part of the “Many Dwellings” discourse, we find a rare glimpse of the confusion the evangelist sees in some of the disciples. Here St. Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father. This request is a platform for Jesus to once again remind them that he (Jesus) and the Father are one, that they have seen him, and they have seen the Father.
He concludes this passage with a clear statement about the power of faith in God's Only Begotten Son (Jesus), saying that whatever is asked for in his name will be granted. Note especially that Jesus says these prayers (requests) will be granted for the glory of the Father.
CCC: Jn 14:6 74, 459, 1698, 2466, 2614; Jn 14:9-10 470; Jn 14:9 516; Jn 14:13-14 2614; Jn 14:13 2614, 2633, 2815
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Reflection:
Spring has truly arrived, and new life is showing itself everywhere. It is as if Easter, in whose light we still bask, has been the herald to all of God’s creation. Last month, after the official start of spring there was some unseasonably cold weather in some regions that caused serious problems as the new crops were stunted by the cold snap. Beginnings are difficult times.
Today we celebrate the Feast of Sts. Philip and James (the Lesser), apostles. Much like newly sown crops, the apostles took the seed they had been given and planted it. The seed they had was their faith in the Savior of the World, and they were planting it where, in many cases, it was seen as hostile as any late spring cold snap. They were sent, some with great fervor, and others with trepidation, into the world as the Psalm today says:
“Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message. “
Their task was more difficult than ours. They had no foundation other than Judaism which was incomplete without the Savior. And, like us, they were taking a message of love and salvation that was not, and is not, popular with the powerful. They followed the Lord’s instruction nonetheless; “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do.” This same instruction comes to us. Thank God we have the apostles who have led the way and shown us what it means.
So today the Church remembers and celebrates two of those guardians of the path to eternal life, St. Philip and St. James. They took the Word into the world with the authority Christ gave them, and through that power it comes to us. We must also remember the cost of their effort: both were martyred. The Word of God they carried was so important they were willing to give their lives for it. That is our example today.
Pax
In other years on this date: Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
[1] The pictures are ”Philip and James” from the Maestà (detail) by Duccio 1308-11.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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