Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
“Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?’” (Jn 14:9a)
Echoing through time this question is directed to us as well. We can easily substitute our name for Philip. How long have we been followers of Christ? The 38 days since the Easter Vigil? A year? Many years? Our entire lives?
Yet, there come times where we seem to fail to not know Jesus well enough to recognize Him among us. Paul reminds us in our first reading today of all the appearances that Jesus made after his Resurrection. Our readings throughout the Easter season are filled with these encounters between Jesus Christ Resurrected and his followers.
Later on in today’s Gospel Jesus reminds his disciples both gathered with him and those of us reading the Gospel account thousands of years later, that whoever sees him also sees God the Father. When we encounter Christ we also encounter our Creator.
Even though it is no longer our parish theme, we are still called as Christians to look for Christ in our lives every day and seek out the opportunity to encounter him each and every single day. As we prepare to celebrate the Ascension and transition from unbounding joy of the Easter season to Ordinary Time, we must keep the question posed originally to Philip in the forefront of our minds. Because there are still times where we fail to recognize that we Encounter Christ. We too fail to recognize Jesus, in our gardens, on our roads, and in people calling to us from our shorelines.
Let us pray:
“Dear God, From the beginning, You have sought to be present to us. You came to Moses in a burning bush, To Elijah in a small whispering wind, and to Jeremiah as a burning in his soul. At the appointed time You stood face-to-face with us in Jesus. In Word, Sacrament, and Community You remain among us. We come to You as a Community of Disciples and consecrate ourselves to You.
We invite You to encounter us. Call us as You called Moses; Cleanse us as You cleansed Isaiah; Send us forth as You sent Jeremiah;Take flesh in us as you did in Mary. Transform us as you did Your first disciples. Encounter us in our prayer, worship, joys, and sorrows; Our very lives.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us, O God, that we can stand face-to-face with Jesus every day. Transformed by our daily encounters; may we Think like Jesus, Talk like Jesus, and Act like Jesus. Through Jesus, may we be Your mercy, Your love, Your compassion and Your redemption. Amen.”
-Will Marsh
(Closing prayer: Fr. Satish Joseph, 2014-15 Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish Prayer)