Memorial
of Saint Philip Neri, priest
(Acts
16:11-15; John 15:26-16:4a)
In today’s
first reading St. Paul begins his European mission. He and his companions have crossed the
Hellespont into Greece. They travel to
Philippi, a few miles inland. On the Sabbath they go to a river where they meet
God-fearing people interested in Judaism.
Paul has teaches these neophytes that Jesus has fulfilled Jewish
expectations. A leading citizen named
Lydia is baptized along with her household.
The Church will grow like a redwood to an awesome and majestic height.
Fast forward
to Rome fifteen centuries later. The
Church is in serious trouble. The redwood is close to falling under its own
weight. Protestantism has divided her influence. Clericalism has frozen her testimony. A young man from Florence named Philip Neri
arrives in Rome to reverse the trend. He
finds Catholics confused and discouraged.
He takes time to talk with them about the marvel of Christ’s
resurrection. He exuberates the joy of knowing
Christ. Philip gathers the reputation of
Rome’s second evangelizer, the first being St. Paul himself.
Joy should
accompany our belief in the resurrection.
Suffering and death are not the final Christian lot. We are remade in the image of Christ’s new
life. Some at times will feel restricted
by Christian discipline. Others, like
Philip Neri, should show them that sacrifice lets us experience more fully the
love of Christ.
