Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

Amid the glorious celebration of Easter, we see red vestments on the altar once again. Celebrating the Feast of the Apostles Saints Philip and James, we remember Christ’s victory over death. In today’s Collect, we pray:

O God, who gladden us each year with the feast day of the Apostles Philip and James, grant us, through their prayers, a share in the Passion and Resurrection of your Only Begotten Son, so that we may merit to behold you for eternity…

When the Church makes this prayer on our behalf, I am reminded of how the Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought (Romans: 8:26). If left to my own devices, I would not ask for a share in the Passion; I would choose only the Resurrection. But the Spirit, through the prayers of the Church, prays for us.

And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will (verse 27).

When we, as Church, ask God to grant us a share in the Paschal Mystery, we are asking for our share as heirs; we are asking for an awareness of the Perfect Love that compels. We are children of promise. Jesus has gone before us to prepare our place.

If faith makes us into a disciple of Jesus, love makes us his Apostle. (Saint Peter Julian Eymard, A Thought Per Day)

The love of Jesus in the Eucharist is the source of all our strength. He sustains us through our share in his Passion. He is the Truth. He is the Way.

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Let us pray:

Eternal Father, for the sake of Jesus’s sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.