Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles

The Collect

Almighty God, who gave to your apostles Philip and James grace and strength to bear witness to the truth: Grant that we, being mindful of their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


The Psalm
119:33-40


The Readings

Isaiah 30:18-21     +     II Corinthians 4:1-6     +     John 14:6-14

Since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.
~II Corinthians 4:1

At the Grow Christians blog, Maria Kane admits that we don't know much about the apostles James and Philip, whom we commemorate today, but they can help us "celebrate the ordinary" at the very time we need it:

As we enter the 6th or 60th week of the COVID-19 pandemic (I’ve lost track), there’s no question in my mind that their anonymous and often-forgotten nature is in fact what makes them the perfect saints for the “rest of us.” By that, I mean those of us who are not frontline responders but are instead fighting against this virus at home. In James and Philip’s faithfulness to the quotidian of daily living and in their willingness to yes to the way of Jesus day after day—even when it wasn’t glamorous— they helped build the community of faith that has been handed down to us today. In their willingness to seek after God in the ordinary moments of life regardless of whether they got the credit or even got it “right,” Philip and James prove that you don’t have to be on the frontlines to matter. Nor do you have to have all the answers. 

To all who are following the way of Jesus, flawed and uncertain as we all are: take heart. In refusing to give up and in to the darkness and fear, in saying yes to the life you have been given this day—which, let’s be honest, may or may not be the one you envisioned or wanted—the Spirit is doing her perfecting, loving work in you…and, it makes you a saint.

We may not know a lot about James and Philip, but I’m convinced that we know everything about them worth knowing: the ordinary is holy.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, help us to be faithful in the small things, in the everyday things, in the unexpected things, that with your servants Philip and James we may even now by your grace see you, who are the image of God. Amen.