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Saint Philip and Saint James Apostles
1 May |
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 James, Son of Alphaeus:
We know nothing of this man but his name, and of course the fact that Jesus
chose him to be one of the 12 pillars of the New Israel, his Church. He is
not the James of Acts, son of Clopas, "brother" of Jesus and later bishop of
Jerusalem and the traditional author of the Letter of James. James, son of Alphaeus, is also known as James the Lesser to avoid confusing him with
James the son of Zebedee, also an apostle and known as James the Greater.
 Philip:
Philip came from the same town as Peter and Andrew, Bethsaida in Galilee.
Jesus called him directly, whereupon he sought out Nathanael and told him of
the "one about whom Moses wrote" (John 1:45).
Like the other apostles, Philip took a long time coming to realize who Jesus
was. On one occasion, when Jesus saw the great multitude following him and
wanted to give them food, he asked Philip where they should buy bread for
the people to eat. St. John comments, "[Jesus] said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do" (John 6:6). Philip
answered, "Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for
each of them to have a little [bit]" (John 6:7).
John’s story is not a put-down of Philip. It was simply necessary for these
men who were to be the foundation stones of the Church to see the clear
distinction between humanity’s total helplessness apart from God and the
human ability to be a bearer of divine power by God’s gift.
On another occasion, we can almost hear the exasperation in Jesus’ voice.
After Thomas had complained that they did not know where Jesus was going,
Jesus said, "I am the way...If you know me, then you will also know my
Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him" (John 14:6a, 7). Then
Philip said, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us"
(John 14:8). Enough! Jesus answered, "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" (John 14:9a).
Possibly because Philip bore a Greek name or because he was thought to be
close to Jesus, some Gentile proselytes came to him and asked him to
introduce them to Jesus. Philip went to Andrew, and Andrew went to Jesus.
Jesus’ reply in John’s Gospel is indirect; Jesus says that now his "hour"
has come, that in a short time he will give his life for Jew and Gentile
alike.
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