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May 3, 2016

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He became human so He could personally lead us to the Father through His teachings and through His miracles, and ultimately, through death on the Cross. His words are the Truth of the power and magnificence of God. His actions, indeed, the very Life He lived and sacrificed, are proof of God’s unconditional love for us. By believing and following Jesus, we become closer to God the Father. Living by the examples of Christ, we reflect God’s image and God’s goodness to others. We continue the work of Christ on earth, that the Father may be glorified.

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 32, Issue 3

<< Tuesday, May 3, 2016 >>

Sts. Philip & James

1 Corinthians 15:1-8
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Psalm 19:2-5

John 14:6-14
Similar Reflections

"I WISH TO KNOW CHRIST" (Phil 3:10)

" 'Philip,' Jesus replied, 'after I have been with you all this time, you still do not know Me?' " —John 14:9

The apostle Philip lived, ate, drank, slept, and traveled with Jesus. After three years, Jesus had to conclude that Philip still did not know Him (Jn 14:9).

After three similar years, the apostle Peter admitted this same fact. Peter looked at Jesus standing bound and accused from across the courtyard and said: "I do not even know the Man!" (Mt 26:74) While it is true that Peter spoke words of cowardice, it's also important to realize that Peter really didn't know Jesus. He knew Jesus as Teacher, Master, and Miracle-Worker, but Peter did not know Jesus, the Suffering-Servant.

If the apostles didn't know Him, then how can we know Him? "The way we can be sure of our knowledge of Him is to keep His commandments" (1 Jn 2:3). If we tell ourselves, " 'I have known Him,' without keeping His commandments," we are self-deceived (1 Jn 2:4).

We need to know His commandments in order to obey them. Consequently, we need to spend time reading His Word and making it our home (Jn 8:31). In the words of St. Jerome: "Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (Catechism, 133).

We will one day find ourselves telling Jesus all the ways in which we knew Him (Mt 7:22; Lk 13:26). Yet if we did not show that we have known Jesus by keeping His commandments, His assessment of us will be: "I never knew You" (Mt 7:23).

Prayer: Jesus, I wish to know You, Your Word, the power flowing from Your Resurrection, and how to share in Your sufferings by being formed into the pattern of Your death (Phil 3:10).

Promise: Jesus "rose on the third day...He was seen by Cephas, then by the Twelve." —1 Cor 15:4-5

Praise: Because of his faithfulness, St. James was one of the first to encounter the risen Jesus.