Explain Further
May 3: Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
I’m sure you’ve always wondered why Saints Philip and James share a feast day. It’s a question that’s weighed on all our minds. The answer is… kinda weird.
Their remains were both moved to the same church, Santi Apostoli (or church of the Holy Apostles), in Rome on the same day.
That day was May 1st. But in the 1955, that day was dedicated to Joseph the Worker, so Philip and James got bumped to the 3rd. Neither their corpses nor their feast day stays settled, it seems.
Reading 1
1 Cor 15:1-8
I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.
There are too many Jameses in the New Testament! Different Catholic sources give slightly confusing (and possibly contradictory?) information, like EWTN and Catholic.org. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the name "James" in the New Testament is borne by several—
James, the son of Zebedee — Apostle, brother of John, Apostle; also called "James the Greater".
James, the son of Alpheus, Apostle — Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13.
James, the brother of the Lord — Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; Galatians 1:19. Without a shadow of doubt, he must be identified with the James of Galatians 2:2 and 2:9; Acts 12:17, 15:13 sqq. and 21:18; and 1 Corinthians 15:7.
James, the son of Mary, brother of Joseph (or Joses) — Mark 15:40 (where he is called ò mikros "the little", not the "less", as in the D.V., nor the "lesser"); Matthew 27:56. Probably the son of Cleophas or Clopas (John 19:25) where "Maria Cleophæ" is generally translated "Mary the wife of Cleophas", as married women are commonly distinguished by the addition of their husband's name.
James, the brother of Jude — Jude 1:1. Most Catholic commentators identify Jude with the "Judas Jacobi", the "brother of James" (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13), called thus because his brother James was better known than himself in the primitive Church.
Anyhoo, Paul’s claim that Jesus appeared to James before the other apostles is the only mention of this in the New Testament. But James and Paul had a long relationship, so it’s possible James mentioned this particular event to Paul but not to Luke or the other Gospel writers.
Remember, just because we have all the Gospels and epistles now, doesn’t mean the original writers did at the time. When writing Acts, it’s possible Luke just hadn’t picked up this particular story. Or maybe he just didn’t deem it important.
It just highlights the fact that we don’t really know much about the day-to-day lives of the Apostles. We know their teachings and (presumably) the important events, but there’s a whole lifetime’s worth of stuff we’ll never know.1
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 19:2-3, 4-5
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day;
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
If you think God doesn’t speak to you, look at the world around you. God may not use words to speak to you (although He does, in the Bible), but His whole creation sends a message that’s hard to miss.
Alleluia
Jn 14:6b, 9c
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord;
Philip, whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
“The Way” is how early Christians identified themselves.
Gospel
Jn 14:6-14
Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
Jesus said to him, "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. 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 speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it."
When Philip asks to be shown the Father, he means literally. He wants a physical manifestation, like Moses or Elijah.2
But Jesus is that manifestation. He’s a little annoyed that Philip, after three years, still doesn’t understand that. But, ever the patient teacher, He explains it again. Jesus is one with the Father. Later on in this chapter, Jesus will mention the Advocate, or the Holy Spirit.
He’s teaching the Apostles, and us, about the Holy Trinity. It’s complicated, and Jesus understands that Philip’s request doesn’t come from disbelief, as with the Pharisees, but confusion. The important thing is that Philip wants to understand, he’s trying his best, and we should, too.
In this life.