CALLED TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF THE GOOD NEWS ~ CookingFood.Org

“RISEN WITH CHRIST”

Easter Reflections

Wednesday, 3^rdMay 2017.

Third Week of Easter

Feast of Sts. Philip & James, Apostles

1 Cor 15: 1-8;

Ps 18: 2-5;

Jn 14: 6-14

CALLED TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF THE GOOD NEWS

We honor today Apostles of the Lord, Philip and James. James has one of his letters contained in the New Testament. After the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to James who eventually went to Jerusalem and led the Church for a few decades, eventually being stoned as a martyr.

Philip is the disciple mentioned at the multiplication of bread in the Gospels. He is the one who was inspired to baptize the Ethiopian eunuch in the Acts of the Apostles. Tradition states that Philip preached in Greece, Phrygia, and Syria. He and Saint Bartholomew were said to have been crucified upside down. Tradition holds that Philip preached upside down from the cross until his death.

James and Philip gave their lives for Christ, holding nothing back. But it took time for them to grow in faith and confidence in Jesus. They challenge us to respond to Jesus every day with complete submission to Him and perfect trust in His divine will.

Even though Philip and James were not faith-filled from the beginning. The Lord never gave up on them and He will not give up on you and me. He continued to call them to a holy and sacred ministry, and He will continue to do the same for us.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for never giving up on me, even when I sin and turn away from You. Help me to persevere in my faith in You and to answer the call to radically follow You wherever You lead. Amen.