REFLECTIONS TODAY

Philip and James, like the rest of the Apostles, live and walk with Jesus. They struggle in understanding his teachings and in perceiving the fullness of his identity, hence their entreaty: “Master, show us the Father” (v 8).

Jesus answers their plea by challenging their faith: “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves” (v 11). They would rise to that challenge after the resurrection of the Lord.

Empowered by the Spirit of the risen Christ, they became bearers of the Good News. Philip’s mission was supposedly in the ancient Eurasian region. One line of tradition says that he was martyred by crucifixion.

James rose to prominence as one of the leaders of the early Church, accompanying its growth and opening to the Gentile world (Gal 1:18-19; Gal 2:9 and Acts 15). He was believed to be martyred in Jerusalem when he refused to refute that Jesus was the Christ.

We invoke the intercession of Saints Philip and James for all missionaries, especially those in countries resistant to the Gospel message.

First Reading • 1 Cor 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.

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 19 “Their message goes out through all the earth.” or “Alleluia.”

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.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.