Monday May 3, 2021 - Saints Philip and James - I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord. Philip, he who saw me saw the Father - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 14, 6-14

Philip and James are apostles, both disciples of Christ and both preached his resurrection, and both continued the work of salvation that Christ had begun. Despite their differences, they have the same goal.

The question in our mind is: why the Church celebrates these Apostles on the same day? The answer is simple, when Jesus sent the apostles, he sent them in pairs. True, they did not preach together in the same region, but they both experienced martyrdom. According to tradition, the relics of these two apostles were placed under the altar of the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles in Rome on May 1, 565, which is why they are celebrated on the same day.

Dear Christians, words shock, while deeds attract. The words and deeds of these apostles persuaded the people to come to God and repent. They truly lived their lives as apostles because they both gave their lives. Thus, the life of the apostles is a living Gospel, for they bore witness, by their deeds and their zeal, to the immeasurable love of Christ.

Jesus, may the blood shed by these apostles strengthen us in our faith. Amen!