The Feast of Saints Philip and James | Tuesday 3 May 2022

Today is Tuesday the 3rd of May, the feast of Saints Philip and James.
Josh Garrels sings, ‘Exalt the Lord Our God’. As you enter into prayer today, notice how you are feeling… in your body….in your heart…in your mind, and offer these feelings to the Lord, our God.
Exalt the Lord our God
And worship at His feet
Exalt the Lord our God
And worship at His feet
For He is holy


For the Lord, our God
He is holy
For the Lord, our God
He is holy


Exalt the Lord our God
And worship at His feet
For He is mighty


For the Lord our God
He is mighty
For the Lord our God
He is mighty
For the Lord our God
He is worthy
For the Lord our God
He is worthy


For the Lord our God
He is Holy
For the Lord our God
He is Holy


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.
John 14:6-14
Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’
Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? 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 say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

Today is the feast of two apostles, St Philip and St James. It is thanks to these two men that many have received the faith in Jesus. They were often the ones who challenged Jesus, yet they were the ones who accepted the mission to take the Good News out to all nations.
How do you respond to Philip’s demands here? Do you seek something more?
Perhaps we should admire the honesty of Philip. What does it mean to be the Way, the Truth and the Life? Is it sometimes hard to ask the question that you think you should know the answer to? To admit that mystery remains a mystery?

As you listen to the passage again, hear Jesus’ patience with his friend. Hear his faith in us, his assurance that he is always there.
In a time of prayer, take a moment to let God read those deep desires of heart that are beyond words.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.