Today is the feast day of the apostles, saints Philip and James. 

The town of Bethsaida was a special place. It’s where Jesus fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. It’s where he retired by boat to rest a while, and it’s also where Jesus found and selected Peter, Andrew, and Philip, who then went and told his friend, Nathaniel, we have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph from Nazareth. 

Though he recognized Jesus immediately, he couldn’t always wrap his mind around what Jesus was about to do. When he is about to feed 5,000, Jesus asks Philip where they can get enough bread, and Philip replies, that 200 days’ wages would not be enough for them to have just a little. Later, Jesus is almost frustrated when Thomas says they don’t know where Jesus is going, and Philip says, master, Show us the Father, and that will be enough for us. Jesus responds, have you been with me for so long a time, and still you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the father.

Though he didn’t always understand, Philip remained in faith as did James the Lesser. Unfortunately, all we know about him is that he was one of the 12 Jesus handpicked to build the foundation of our faith. 

Saints Philip and James, please pray for us.