Saints Apostles - Philip and James
Each liturgical memorial of the Apostles reminds us of the irreplaceable need to ask whether we are faithful to the faith that the apostles communicated to us, because only by professing such faith we can be sure that we will reach its goal, i.e., salvation. Today we celebrate the feast of the Apostles Philip and James. What does the Gospel tell us about the first one?
Philip was from Bethsaida, a town on the northern shore of Lake Gennesaret. The Evangelist John speaks of his calling by Jesus. Philip points Jesus to Nathanael (Bartholomew), saying that He is the one that Moses and the prophets wrote about. The synoptic Gospels list Philip in the order of the Twelve Apostles. The Gospel of John tells that in the miracle of the multiplication of the bread, he was put to the test by a question asked by Jesus. After the solemn entry into Jerusalem, Philip and Andrew enabled Hellenized Jews to contact Jesus. It is also mentioned during Jesus' farewell speech.
Saint Philip the Apostle was instrumental in bringing Nathanael to Jesus. Can it be said that in this way St. Philip became the patron saint of those who seek to bring someone close to God?
The most interesting thing is that Philip recognizes Jesus as the Messiah: " the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets." What allowed him to say this? Probably he came into contact with Jesus very early, listening to His teaching or seeing some sign, therefore he could come to such a conclusion. We can also conclude from this statement, that he knew well the biblical texts and searched for it understanding and fulfillment. This reference to the fulfillment of the Scriptures is very important in the personality of Philip. If we were to find any characteristic of his personality, we would see it in this fact. Especially now, because in today's theology little attention is paid to the fact that in Jesus "the Scriptures have been fulfilled", and this is one of the important arguments for His divinity. We can speak of a "prophetic apology" here. Then also, whoever recognizes Jesus in this way, can lead others to Him, because such guidance also requires appropriate argumentation.
And what information about Philip do we find in tradition? First, Philip evangelized "in the land of the Scythians" and then came to the Asian city of Hierapolis, where he was crucified at the age of 87. The apocryphal History of Philip (end of the 4th century) talks about his activity and martyrdom. Relics of St. Philip are honored at the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Rome.
Saint James the Lesser. Two of the apostles were named James. That is why we call one of them the Greater or the Older, and the other the Younger or Lesser. Probably not by the age, but the order in which they approachedJesus. St. James the Lesser was the brother of St. Jude Thaddeus and probably a cousin of Jesus - the son of Mary of Cleopas - sister or sister-in-law of St. Joseph. At the end of his life, he was the bishop of Jerusalem. Like every apostle, he is most often presented with a book symbolizing the Holy Scriptures. Together with Peter and John, he was the "pillar" of the first Christian Community in Jerusalem. During the Council of Jerusalem described in the Acts of the Apostles stood out clearly by proposing a compromise regarding the converted non-Jews. Only some Jewish regulations were to apply to them. He died asmartyr in Jerusalem around year 62. He was stoned to death. Tradition says that, during the execution of the sentence, a fuller (a worker who cleanses wool through the process of fulling) jumped up to the apostle and hit him in the head with a stick. That is how he killed him. Therefore, the attribute of St. James the Lesser is also a fulling stick
Saint James the Less, in turn, is credited with the authorship of one of the Catholic letters in the New Testament. This letter amazes with its superficiality, compared, for example, to the Letters of St. John, with simplicity and at the same time with practical guidelines for the Christian life. It is a very important letter, not only of a practical nature. First of all, the statement about the meaning of "works" flowing from faith is like a flagship message of the Letter of St. James. Later this Letter will contribute to the proper understanding of the Christian faith, and more precisely, it will define the mission of the Catholic Church in history, which lives with the profound conviction that "faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (Jas 2:17). It can be said that the Epistle of St. James is a letter calling to "open oureyes" to the needs of others, in relation to whom the Christian "I believe" is realized and confirmed and by the statement of St. James with his message is inscribed in the faith of every authentic Christian.
In the Letter of St. James, no deeper theological argument has been developed, but it contains synthetic statements that play central importance in Christian theology. Especially the sentence: " all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. " (Jas 1:17). Every doctrinal statement about God and about Christian action takes into account - consciously or not - this statement. The doctrine of God's changelessness is a key assumption of the Christian image of God. The principle that God is the source of all good that man does is the basis of Catholic teaching on human action. This principle is also closely related to the statement of St. James about the fact that God's law is perfect and that it is "the law of freedom" (Jas 1:25). This statement by St. James describes the specificity of Christian freedom, constituting a key point of reference for Christian doctrine.
It must not be forgotten that the doctrine of Christian action, which was laid down by St. James, was a subject of controversy during the Reformation because of Luther, who rejected the meaning of works in faith. Therefore, Luther rejected the canonicity of St. James Letter, calling it a "straw letter". Ultimately, however, it remained in the Lutheran canon.
How can today Patrons, of whom relatively little is known about, help us walk on the path of faith?
As for the Apostles Philip and James, like all the Apostles, they remain for us direct, special and essential witnesses of Jesus Christ. They are like a "link" between Christ and us because our faith is based on their faith. This fact is well expressed in a sentence from our profession of faith which emphasizes that we believe in "the apostolic Church". The apostolicity of the Church is her important attribute which determines our faith. For it to be authentic, it must constantly recognize its apostolic sources and identify with them, because only in this way we come to Christ himself. There is no other way. Each liturgical memorial of the Apostles has the meaning that it reminds us of the irreplaceable need to ask whether we are faithful to the faith that the apostles communicated to us. Only by professing such faith we can be sure that we will reach its goal, i.e., salvation.
This apostolic thread in the Church has something mystical in it because it makes us transcend ourselves and our personal attitudes, drawing from an objective source of truth. It also has something "empirical” because it shows us a concrete, historical and act-based bond of faith in which People, the first of whom are the Apostles, play an irreplaceable role. Catholic faith is a profound interweaving of what is spiritual and what is historical in order to achieve a synthesis, that is, faith expressed in deeds. This very truth flows from the lives of the Apostles Philip and James.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george