The Feast of Saints Philip and James | Friday 3 May 2024

Today is Friday 3 May, the feast of Saints Philip and James, in the 5th week of Eastertide.

Juliano Ravanello sings 'Pater Noster', the Our Father.

St Ignatius of Loyola suggested one way of preparing for prayer is to stand under the gaze of God’s love for the length of an Our Father. As we repeat the music, why not take a moment to try this? Consider God’s gaze of love upon you now…

Pater noster qui es in coelis,
sanctificetur nomen tuum;
adveniat regnum tuum,
fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in coelo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
et ne nos inducas in tentationem
sed libera nos a malo.
Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.




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.

The creator God is described as loving us as a Father loves his children, and the man Jesus reveals the way to God, the truth and the life that comes from God. Consider for a moment the amazing works that Jesus did do: feeding 5,000 people, healing the sick, raising the dead – what else can you think of?

Jesus tells us that if we believe in him, we will do greater works than he did. What great works would you like to do?

As you hear it again, listen for the strong note of promise in Jesus’s voice all through this passage, and the momentous promise that Jesus spells out for us at the end.

“If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” Consider for a moment what you want to ask God for – perhaps great things you would like to do, perhaps for help with something, or for people you know who are in need – then go ahead and ask: God the Father is listening.

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.