The Feast of Saints Philip and James | Wednesday 3 May 2023

Today is Wednesday the 3rd of May, the feast of Saints Philip and James.

The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing Psalm 91: ‘It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning, and your truth in the watches of the night.’ As I listen, can I bring myself before the God they speak of, the God present here with me, the source of all life, all love, all truth?

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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.

In today’s scene, we come face to face with what it really means to believe in Jesus… Take a moment to ponder your own belief… how do you experience your belief in the Lord? Where do you experience this belief residing in your body?


Place yourself into the passage as Philip, whose feast we celebrate today. You might have some sympathy for him as he says to Jesus: ‘Lord, show us the Father…’ How do you feel him saying this? Frustratedly? Longingly? Can you relate?

‘…and we will be satisfied’. Do you ever find yourself asking God for something like Philip does here? Feeling you will only be satisfied once God provides it?

Listen again to the scripture…what do you notice?


Talk to Jesus now, perhaps as freely as Philip does. You might like to ask for an increase in knowledge of Jesus as ‘the way, the truth, and the life’ today…

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.