The Feast day of Sts. Philip and James

Saints Philip and James’ Story

Philip: Philip came from the same town as Peter and Andrew, Bethsaida in Galilee. Jesus called him directly, whereupon he sought out Nathanael and told him of the “one about whom Moses wrote” (Jn 1:45).

Like the other apostles, Philip took a long time coming to realize who Jesus was. On one occasion, when Jesus saw the great multitude following him and wanted to give them food, he asked Philip where they should buy bread for the people to eat. Saint John comments, “[Jesus] said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do” (Jn 6:6). Philip answered, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little [bit]” (Jn 6:7).

John’s story is not a put-down of Philip. It was simply necessary for these men who were to be the foundation stones of the Church to see the clear distinction between humanity’s total helplessness apart from God and the human ability to be a bearer of divine power by God’s gift.

On another occasion, we can almost hear the exasperation in Jesus’ voice. After Thomas had complained that they did not know where Jesus was going, Jesus said, “I am the way. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (Jn 14:6a, 7). Then Philip said, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us” (Jn 14:8). Enough! Jesus answered, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9a).

Possibly because Philip bore a Greek name or because he was thought to be close to Jesus, some gentile proselytes came to him and asked him to introduce them to Jesus. Philip went to Andrew, and Andrew went to Jesus. Jesus’ reply in John’s Gospel is indirect; Jesus says that now his “hour” has come, that in a short time he will give his life for Jew and gentile alike.

James, Son of Alphaeus: We know nothing of this man except his name, and, of course, the fact that Jesus chose him to be one of the 12 pillars of the New Israel, his Church. He is not the James of Acts, son of Clopas, “brother” of Jesus and later bishop of Jerusalem and the traditional author of the Letter of James. James, son of Alphaeus, is also known as James the Lesser to avoid confusing him with James the son of Zebedee, also an apostle and known as James the Greater.

From the Franciscan Media website

Philip and James were both apostles, and both served Christ faithfully during the very early days of the Church.

Philip seems to have been an enthusiastic person. He was the one who brought his friend Nathanael to Jesus, insisting to Nathanael that he had found the person about whom Moses had written. Some years later it was Philip who made arrangements, with the help of Andrew, to have a group of Greek Gentiles brought to Jesus. Philip the apostle is not to be confused with the deacon Philip of Acts 8, who preached in Samaria and baptized the Ethiopian, although some writers say that they are the same person. Philip also had a practical, down-to-earth mind. He was the apostle who commented that it would take a considerable amount of money to feed a crowd of more than 5,000 hungry men, women, and children. It was Philip who asked to see the Father when Jesus spoke about him at the Last Supper.

James was the son of Alphaeus and seems to have been born in Caesarea. He is mentioned less frequently in the New Testament than Philip is. Sometimes James is called the Less, which might be a hint that he was a short person or else that he was younger than the other apostle named James.

After Jesus’ death James continued to preach the Gospel and is believed to have become the first bishop of Jerusalem. Assuming that James and the first bishop of Jerusalem are one and the same person, then he met his death as a martyr in that city about the year a.d. 62. Tradition identifies James as the author of the epistle associated with his name.

From the Loyola Press

Week 2: Reflections on the Resurrection – May 1, 2022 

During the Easter season, Sermons That Work is pleased to present reflections from bishops of The Episcopal Church on the resurrection of our Lord. Check back each week for a brief exploration of how Jesus Christ’s rising from the grave changes everything. To listen to this reflection, scan the QR code on this page and subscribe to the Sermons That Work podcast.

In the Gospel of Mark, the women in the resurrection narrative find an empty tomb, but no signs of Jesus. How would you respond if all you encountered was an empty tomb? Would you believe Jesus was alive?

On the one hand, we have the benefit of 2,000 years of Easter celebrations. We know how the story ends. However, the events of the past few years have placed many of us in the posture of the women from Mark’s Gospel. We’ve lived through multiple pandemics: COVID-19, dramatic weather patterns indicating an environmental crisis, a political system which seems broken almost beyond repair, and the acknowledgement of systemic racism embedded in all aspects of American life. At times, it has felt like the empty tomb on Easter morning as we searched for signs of God’s presence in the midst of so much pain and despair. Do we believe Jesus is alive?

The women’s response to the empty tomb can help us navigate our current circumstances. In order for the women to experience the risen Lord, they had to return to Galilee. Returning to Galilee entails going to the margins, far from the bright lights of the city. Galilee was the place where Jesus healed the sick and fed the hungry, where he drove out demons and preached words of hope, where he restored people to community. In Galilee, we look beyond our own needs and respond compassionately to others. And that’s where we’ll find God, among the least, the lost and the lonely.

Intractable problems aren’t easily resolved but we can make a difference when we collaborate with others as partners in God’s vineyard. The question is whether we are willing to journey to Galilee and commit ourselves to the ministry of repentance, reconciliation and restoration. The resurrection isn’t a one time event which occurred 2,000 years ago – it has implications for how we structure our lives today. We participate in the resurrection when we work to make the kingdom of God manifest on earth.

Beloved, resurrected life is available this side of the grave. There’s an assignment with your name written on it and it’s waiting for you in Galilee. In this season of Easter, may we courageously share the love of God with our fellow companions and everyone we encounter along the way. The Good News of Jesus Christ is too amazing to keep to ourselves. So let’s journey together to Galilee. Amen.

This reflection was written by the Rt. Rev. Phoebe Roaf. Bishop Roaf grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Following her work as a public policy analyst and an attorney, she was ordained as a priest in the Diocese of Louisiana. She served congregations in New Orleans and Richmond, Va., prior to her ordination and consecration as the 4^th Bishop of the Diocese of West Tennessee on May 4, 2019.