Breaking the Word

Sts. Philip and James, Wednesday – 3^rd May 2023 — Gospel: Jn 14,6-14

Too slow to Grasp

Today we celebrate the feast of Philip and James, the lesser. Little is known about them. Philip came from the same town as Peter and Andrew which was Bethsaida in Galilee (Jn 1,44). In the first chapter of John’s gospel, Jesus calls Philip directly (Jn 1,43). Immediately after his call he found Nathanael with whom he shared his experience. To Nathanael’s skepticism, Philip responds in the same words that Jesus used as an invitation for the first disciples, “come and see.” Before feeding the five thousand, Jesus tests Philip by asking him how to feed the people. Philip’s response indicates that he fails the test (Jn 6,5-7). Here he expresses skepticism similar to Nathanael. After the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, some Greeks approached Philip with a request to see Jesus (Jn 12,20-21).  James is the son of Alphaeus. Not much is known about him except that he was one among the chosen twelve.

In the Gospel, Jesus offered all the revelation that the disciples need to identify the Father. In his ignorance, Philip does not realize that in seeing Jesus he has seen the Father. He does not recognize the revelation that Jesus makes of the Father. The works of Jesus are the works of revelation. They show that the primary aim of God is not to condemn but to save. However, Philip’s question to Jesus shows that he has not fully grasped the mission and ministry of Jesus.

4^th week in Easter Time, Tuesday – 2^nd May 2023 – Acts 11,19-26; Jn 10,22-30

Moving and Stable Church

The first reading presents the story of the Church being founded in Antioch in Syria. In fact, it was immediately after the martyrdom of Stephen and the violent persecution which followed and scattered the Jerusalem Christians to many directions like Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch.  The first mainly Gentile local church was located here. In many ways, it would become the headquarters for the mission to the Gentiles. Later we find, that Paul from here would launch his three missionary journeys. The apostles first evangelized to their fellow Jews only but due to the persecution, the good news started to be preached to non-Jews as well. Many Gentiles came to believe and the early leaders of the church, like Barnabas, began to see how God can work in the lives of non-Jews. As representative of the Jerusalem leaders, Barnabas encouraged and supported the Christians in Antioch. It was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus’ Way were first given the nickname “Christians.” This indicates that the name “Christ” became personal rather than a title. Whether the followers adopted this name for themselves, or whether their enemies used it as a term of contempt, the title ‘Christians’ became very fitting and has remained for centuries.