WHAT MATTERS MOST
What do we know about these Sts. Philip and James? We have to admit: Not much.
The only detail we have about Philip is in the Gospel of John who tells us that he came from Bethsaida, the place of Peter and Andrew. It seems he liked to bring people to Jesus: first, his friend Nathanael, then the boy with the loaves and fishes, and again later some Greeks who wanted to meet the Lord.
But Philip is also a man who had difficulty understanding Jesus. In today’s Gospel passage, Philip shows, with his naïve question, that he was not on top of things. In spite of his weaknesses, he responded immediately to Jesus’ call and brings his friend to Jesus. And finally, it is certain that he handed his life over to him totally. According to some old documents (“Acts of Philip”), Philip preached in Greece and then in Phrygia, where he was killed for his faith.
And St. James? Beside James “the Greater,” son of Zebedee and brother of John, another James appears in the Gospel, who is called “the Less.” He also is part of the list of the Twelve Apostles chosen personally by Jesus, and is always specified as “son of Alphaeus.”
We have to admit that we don’t know anything more about him, except that he was chosen by Jesus as an Apostle. That he is called James the Less does not mean that he was not so important, he was either short of stature or younger than the other James.
What do these two obscure Apostles teach us? Maybe it is this: If even an Apostle of Jesus left so little trace in history, we should not be disappointed at all if our own personal lives also leave little or no traces in history.
What counts is the fact that Jesus chose them and us to be His followers. It shows that we are of great value in God’s eyes. We may be unimportant in the eyes of people, but we are very important in the eyes of God. And that’s what matters most.Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD
REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you seek recognition more rather than just do simply what God wants you to do?
Make me humble, Lord, that I may live always only for You and never seek fame in this world. May my goal be always only what counts in Your eyes.
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