HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF EASTER (2)

HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF EASTER

THEME: In A Word!

BY: Deacon Bill Frere

HOMILY FOR TUESDAY MAY 3 2022

Sts. Philip and James

Gospel – John 14: 6-14

OK, time to put on your thinking caps! When you think of your mom or dad, or perhaps that one special teacher, what is the one thing they said to you, that one sentence that immediately comes to mind? Maybe it’s that one ‘dad’ joke or mom’s ‘words to the wise’ or that wise saying from your teacher. Or maybe it was something more ‘instructive’ or disciplinary rather than enlightening! What was that one thing they said to you that brings a smile to your face or a tear to your eyes?

For me, it was my dear friend Charlie. He was friend and colleague, my boss and my mentor. I worked with him for over 3 years in his tenure as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University. And what were his words? “Why are you still here?” they were spoken with the utmost love and respect. But they were also a challenge to me that greater opportunities await me if I only had the courage to move on and move forward. And so I did! Whatever those words were for you, they remain with us years or even decades later. Most often, we even remember the setting and the exact moment of the conversation. They live on just as the loved one who spoke them.

We celebrate today the feast of the Apostles Philip and James the Less. Unfortunately we know almost nothing about their lives beyond the fact that Jesus called them to follow Him. Little is known about their life except for this singular episode in the Gospel of John. In fact the only reason they are paired up is that it was on this date in the 6th Century that both their bodies were recovered and brought to Rome to be buried together in the Basilica of the 12 Apostles.

In today’s Gospel, however, we do get one glimpse into the life of Philip and it does not go well. Jesus is telling the Apostles that, if you know Him, then you know the Father and you have seen Him. But Philip answers and says “Show us the Father.” Basically – we haven’t seen the Father! SHOW ME!!!

You can almost hear the exasperation in Jesus’ voice! How can you not get it? If you see Me, you have seen the Father. How much more does I have to do? You have seen the Father in every word I have spoken, every parable, every teaching! You have seen the Father in every healing touch, in the raising of Lazarus and the feeding of the 5000.

We don’t know how Philip responded. We believe that his eyes and his heart were opened and that he was ‘cured of his short-sightedness.’ But let’s remember today that we can be, at times, just as oblivious to the presence of the Father in our lives! Let’s hope today for a bit more awareness of God’s presence all around us – in the kindness of strangers, in a comforting touch or word, in the unexpected blessings that come our way and in the beauty of creation that is right in front of our eyes. And may we hope that others can see the “Christ” in our own actions!

So think back on today’s Gospel story and imagine Philip being remembered for only these few words – SHOW ME! Or how about Thomas – I won’t believe unless……! And then turn the tables around for a moment!

What words will you be remembered for? Words of encouragement? Word of love and compassion? Words of correction or blame? What words will come to mind for the people in your life when they think of you? Will those words reflect your faith, your devotion to Christ? Will they be words that shine forth as a true reflection of your life as a Christian?

Deacon Bill Frere