Friday, May 3, 2019
Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostol
Listen for English
Philip tell [Jesus], “Master, show us di Father, and dat one go do for us.” Jesus tell am, “I don dey with una for all dis time, and you still no know Me, Philip?” John 14:8-9
Today, we dey honour two of the Apostles, Philip and James wey dem dey call Onye Nta. We no know much about James apart from say our Lord choose am for the ministry of Apostle. We still get one of im letters wey dey inside the New Testament. After Jesus rise from death, E appear to James, wey later go Jerusalem and lead the Church for some decades. For the end, dem use stone kill am as martyr.
Dem know Philip for some things wey e talk wey be like say dem show weakness for im faith. Apart from wetin e talk above, remember when Jesus dey prepare to multiply di fish and bread and ask Philip, “Where we fit buy enough food for dem to chop?” (John 6:5). Philip answer, “Even food wey worth two hundred days’ wages no go reach for each of dem to get small [portion]” (John 6:7). But Jesus dey test Philip and, sadly, e fail di test.
But Philip no continue to fail for im faith. Remember, too, say na Philip get inspiration to baptize di eunuch wey come from Ethiopia for di Acts of di Apostles. Later, tradition talk say Philip preach for Greece, Phrygia, and Syria. Dem talk say dem nail am and Saint Bartholomew for cross with dia head facing down. Tradition hold say Philip preach from di cross with im head facing down until e die.
For the end, James and Philip give their lives for Christ; dem no hold anything back. But e take time before their faith and confidence in Jesus grow. This na important witness for our own lives.
The way e suppose be, na make we surrender ourselves completely to Jesus every day and trust His divine will without reserve. The way e suppose be, our faith no suppose lack.
But most likely, all of us fit look back at plenty times for our lives and point to ways wey we don fail to get faith and trust for our Lord. Even though this na sin, e good make we look at these times wey we weak with the mercy of God for mind. Jesus see Philip weakness and talk about am, but E continue to love am and call am to follow the path wey E don choose for am. Jesus dey do the same thing for each one of us.
Today, think about any ways wey your own doubts and weaknesses resemble Apostle Philip own. See those weaknesses as wetin dem really be: your sin. But allow your hope to grow today as we honour Philip and James. The Lord never give up on dem, and E no go give up on you. E continue to call dem to a holy and sacred ministry, and E go continue to do the same for you.
Lord, I thank You because You no ever give up on me, even when I sin and turn away from You. Help me to hold firm for my faith in You and to answer di call to follow You with my whole life wherever You lead me. Saints James and Philip, pray for us. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Feast for Saints Philip and James
