Tuesday Reflection by Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, O.P.
Readings from: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050322.cfm
If we were there when Jesus chose his apostles, we might ask ourselves: “What is he thinking?” On display, when these apostles opened their mouths, was their humanity. Case in point is in today’s gospel when Philip says to Jesus: “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus had just said to him: “If you know me, then you will also know my Father.”, Obviously, that was not enough of an answer for Philip. Jesus must have been discouraged at these followers whom he loved so much. So, patiently, Jesus responded to poor Philip: ‘Have I been with you for so long a time, and you still do not know me?”
Truth be told, we often do the same thing with our relationship and conversations with Christ. We’re never satisfied enough with the answers we’ve been given. Like Philip, we say: ‘Master, show me … (and fill in the blank here…show your will for me, show my friend your healing power, show me how to relate to this person, show me why we lost a loved one so young…) and that will be enough for me.” But is it ever enough? Don’t we always want more? Aren’t we always challenging Jesus in one way or another?
What Jesus is inviting us to do, again, is really put our faith and trust in him, and walk with him through all our questions and concerns. That faith gives us strength, and from that strength, we do have ‘enough’. In fact, we have more than enough which allows us to do more to build up the kingdom.
Philip and James did just that. Although we don’t know much about Philip and James from the scriptures, we do know Philip was enthusiastic about Jesus and even brought Nathaniel to meet the Lord. Philip also questioned Jesus at the feeding of the 5,000 saying that it would take a year’s worth of wages to feed that hungry group. Jesus must have smiled at Philip when so many were fed so well shortly thereafter.
As history then shows us, Philip did grow in faith and trust, and he and James went on to become great leaders in the early Church, true foundation stones. After Jesus’ death James continued to preach the Gospel and is believed to have become the first bishop of Jerusalem. He is also traditionally identified as the author of the Epistle of James. We can thank James for his insistence in his writings that true faith is revealed in good works, especially works of mercy toward the poor and justice toward the oppressed.
These good men are teaching us that to have a growing faith and trust in God, who is known and shown to us by Jesus, is enough. It is enough for us to live each day in a holy way.
St. Philip and St. James, pray for us.
