Thursday May 26, 2022

PHILIP NERI, Priest

St. Philip Neri was a priest of Rome in the 16th century. He founded the Oratorians, a congregation for secular priests. At a time of religious decadence, he did much to revive a true religious sense and devotion to the eucharist. He was very original and always of joyous disposition, often playing practical jokes on friends , so much so that some doubted his sanctity. His biography tells that his heart beat so strongly with love of God that one day two of his ribs cracked.

 

First Reading: Acts 18:1-11 

After Athens, Paul went to Corinth. That is where he discovered Aquila, a Jew born in Pontus, and his wife, Priscilla. They had just arrived from Italy, part of the general expulsion of Jews from Rome ordered by Claudius. Paul moved in with them, and they worked together at their common trade of tent making. But every Sabbath he was at the meeting place, doing his best to convince both Jews and Greeks about Jesus.

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was able to give all his time to preaching and teaching, doing everything he could to persuade the Jews that Jesus was in fact God’s Messiah. But no such luck. All they did was argue contentiously and contradict him at every turn. Totally exasperated, Paul had finally had it with them and gave it up as a bad job. “Have it your way, then,” he said. “You’ve made your bed; now lie in it. From now on I’m spending my time with the other nations.”

He walked out and went to the home of Titius Justus, a God-fearing man who lived right next to the Jews’ meeting place. But Paul’s efforts with the Jews weren’t a total loss, for Crispus, the meeting-place president, put his trust in the Master. His entire family believed with him.

In the course of listening to Paul, a great many Corinthians believed and were baptized. One night the Master spoke to Paul in a dream: “Keep it up, and don’t let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I’m with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city.” That was all he needed to stick it out. He stayed another year and a half, faithfully teaching the Word of God to the Corinthians.

 

Gospel: John 16:16-20 

“In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me.”

That stirred up a hornet’s nest of questions among the disciples: “What’s he talking about: ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? And, ‘Because I’m on my way to the Father’? What is this ‘day or so’? We don’t know what he’s talking about.”

Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness

 

Prayer

God, our Father,
you want us to be joyful people
as we are disciples of the risen Lord
who defeated death as the great enemy.
Thank you for creating us for happiness.
Help us to make our own
the motto of Saint Philip Neri
that joy is the best way to perfection.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Reflection:

26 May 2022
John 16:16-20
Recognise the Lord who walks by our side

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Philip Neri. Saint Philip was born into a well-educated, Catholic, middle-class home in Italy. After growing up in Florence, he moved to Rome to study Theology. While he was still a layperson, he founded a group to care for the many impoverished pilgrims who came to Rome. He was ordained a priest in 1551. He often begged alms from his wealthy friends and acquaintances to redistribute to needy street children. He was so well loved and so well known in Rome that he is sometimes called its “Third Apostle” after Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

He was a cheerful listener, always available for others … He embodied simplicity and elegance at the same time. He was just like everyone, yet…everyone saw the invisible halo casting a glow over the Saint, and people crowded around him, for they knew they were witnessing the life of a saint.

Today’s Gospel leaves us with some mysterious words of Jesus: “In a little while you will no longer see me, and in a little while you will see me again”. The disciples are sad because Jesus is going away from them; but the reunion will bring them joy again.

“Seeing” or perceiving is done in many ways. There are those who, in spite of having their eyes open, do not perceive or understand anything. And there are those who even with their eyes closed see and understand everything. We believe that Jesus is present not only in the Eucharist and the Word of God, but also amidst us – walks with us in our daily lives, especially among the poor, the needy, the marginalized and the sick.

There are people who are able to perceive beyond what can be seen or touched. They discover signs of hope, of life, of God’s presence, while many others are able to see only darkness and despair. They are people who have the light, the love of God within their hearts and that is why they see what others fail to see. They are able to light up the lives around them and to live in joy. They see Jesus walking with us, they feel his presence in the poor, in those who are sad and lonely.

Let us ask the intercession of St. Philip Neri that Holy Spirit may enlighten us from within so that we may discover God’s presence close to us, that we may be able to light up hope in our hearts and communicate it to those we meet along the way. We do not see Jesus physically but if we open our eyes, we will find him by our side, because he does not leave us alone.

 

Video available on Youtube: Recognise the Lord who walks by our side