Monday, May 3, 2021
Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostol
Listen for English
Philip tell Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that one go do for us.” Jesus tell am, “I don stay with una for all this long time, and you still no know Me, Philip? Anybody wey don see Me don see the Father. How you fit talk say, ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:8–9
The liturgical feast of today na to honour two of the Apostol, Philip and James the Lesser. We no know plenty about James, apart from say our Lord choose am for the work of Apostol, and say we get one of im letters inside the New Testament. Later, James go Jerusalem and lead the Church for some decades, until dem stone am to death as martyr. Philip preach for Greece, Phrygia and Syria. People believe say dem crucify am and Saint Bartholomew with their head face down. Philip continue to preach from the cross with im head face down until e die.
For the Gospel for today Misa, we hear about one encounter wey Philip get with Jesus. Even though this encounter be like say Jesus dey correct Philip, na correction wey come deep from His heart. Jesus talk say, “I don stay with una for all this long time, and you still no know Me, Philip?” True-true, Jesus spend plenty time with His disciples. Dem stay together, chop together, travel together, and spend plenty time dey talk with one another. So, wetin Jesus tell Philip come from the real personal relationship wey He and Philip share.
Make we first look at the first part of that statement. “I don stay with una for all this long time…” Imagine say Jesus dey tell you this. Na something wey He fit tell you? Na true say you dey spend plenty time with Am? You dey spend time dey read the Gospels, dey talk to Am from deep inside your heart, dey discuss with Am, dey pray to Am, and dey listen to His gentle voice?
But Jesus continue: “…and you still no know Me…?” This na truth wey we need humility to accept. Na true say even people wey their prayer life deep well-well and dey change their life still never know our Lord reach as dem suppose. No limit dey to the change wey fit happen for our life when we know Jesus personally.
Jesus continue His statement: “Anybody wey don see Me don see the Father.” So the next question na this: “You know the Father?” You know the Father love, the care wey He get for you, and His perfect will? Even though the Father and the Son na one God, They still be distinct Persons. So, we must work to build relationship of love with each of Them.
As we talk for beginning, wetin Jesus talk na gentle correction of love for Philip, and He want give you this same gentle correction. But na correction of love wey go encourage you to know Am better. Na invitation to make your relationship with Jesus and the Father personal, real, and something wey you dey live out. You know Am? You know the Son of God? You know the Father for Heaven?
Today, reflect on these questions wey our Lord ask with love, as if na you He dey ask. Make His words encourage you to know Am more deeply. Pray make your relationship with Am become more personal and make e change your life. And as you dey know our Lord more closely, know say na the Father for Heaven you dey know too.
My Lord wey be God and wey dey close to me, the deepest desire of Your Sacred Heart na to know me and love me. Fill my heart with this same desire, so that I no go only know You, dear Lord, but also the Father for Heaven. Father for Heaven, I thank You for Your perfect love, and I pray make I open myself to that love more fully each and every day. Saints Philip and James, pray for me. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Read More – Saints Philip and James, Apostol
Picture wey dey above: Saints Philip and James the Less wey Paolo Veronese draw
