May 3
Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intentions
7:45 AM – Adeline O’Sullivan / Richard & Roxanne Kopeky
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 19:2-3, 4-5
R. (5) Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day;
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Gospel Acclamation
John 14:6b, 9c
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord;
Philip, whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 14:6-14
Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
“Their message goes out through all the earth.”
Reflection
Today in the Gospel of John, we hear Philip say to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” This simple statement made by Philip reminds us that the early followers, including the Apostles, the first priests appointed by Jesus, still did not have a real understanding of who Jesus was. It is understandable that Philip longs to see the Father. How difficult it will be for them, and us, to realize that Jesus and the Father are one.
Jesus says, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” He continues, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” Philip and the others really do believe, but the question is do they understand. Belief and understanding are two different things. They have come to believe everything that Jesus says, and yet they have not developed a full understanding of what they believe.
This statement made by Philip allows Jesus to explain how He (Jesus) is in the Father and that the Father is in Him. The understanding of this part of the Holy Trinity is vital for us to prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We must realize that God the Father has created us. God the Son, Jesus, has redeemed us, and God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. This allows us to go from creation to salvation knowing that God is always present in our life, and that we are never abandoned.
May God bless you!
Fr. John Kurgan
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