Short Homily: Friday – Second Week of Easter
Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
Readings:
– 1 Corinthians 15:1–8
– Psalm 19:2–3, 4–5: “Their message goes out through all the earth.”
– John 14:6–14: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
A priest once said, “If only the apostles had smartphones, we’d have selfies with Jesus and maybe even a voice note of the Sermon on the Mount!” But no — they had sandals, scrolls, and stubborn questions. And yet, their message shook the world — and still does. Saints Philip and James weren’t celebrities or influencers. They were ordinary men called to witness the extraordinary.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul reminds the Corinthians — and us — of the unchanging Gospel: “Christ died, was buried, and rose on the third day.” This was not a rumour. Paul lists eyewitnesses, and among them are Philip and James — not storytellers, but living testimonies.
In the Gospel of John 14, Philip makes a very human request: “Show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus’ response is stunning: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” It’s a moment of divine revelation: Jesus is not just the messenger — He is the message.
And so, the Psalm today rightly proclaims: “Their message goes out through all the earth.” The Church, built on apostolic witness, still stands, even as we prepare our hearts to reflect on the future — a post-Francis Church, and one day, a new conclave.
At this altar, we gather not to remember a dead founder, but to commune with a living Lord. The Eucharist is not nostalgia — it is nourishment. It is here that we, like Philip and James, are sent again into the world: witnesses of truth, hope, and resurrection.
Question for Reflection:
What part of my life still says, “Lord, show us the Father”? And am I ready to be someone through whom others can see Christ?
Daily Practical Application:
Today, take a moment to speak the Gospel not just with your lips, but with your life. A kind word to a worker, a call to a forgotten friend, a peaceful response to frustration — these small actions are your apostolic footprints.
Maybe you're struggling — with family, finances, faith. Like James, who was martyred, and Philip, who was confused, you’re not alone. They too had questions, fears, and fatigue. Yet Christ used their frailty to build something eternal.
So, too, in your brokenness, God is at work. Keep walking. Hope is not naive — it is necessary.
During the Jubilee Year: What Can I Do?
Be a Pilgrim of Hope:
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Learn more about the faith.
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Invite someone back to Mass.
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Accompany someone who's suffering.
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Pray for the Church’s future leadership.
This Jubilee isn’t just a calendar event. It’s a divine reset.
In Mzansi, we know about journeying with hope. Through power cuts, potholes, and politics — we press on. Why? Because as Philip and James show us, when the Gospel gets into your bones, no tomb, trial or temptation can stop it.
“A hopeful heart does not wait for perfect conditions; it finds light in the dark.”
Let us be apostles in taxis and townships, on farms and Facebook. Let our message, like theirs, go out through all the earth.
Lord Jesus,
Let me see You more clearly,
follow You more nearly,
and love You more dearly — today and always.
Make me an apostle of hope,
a builder of peace,
a bearer of joy.
Amen.
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