St. Philip, Apostle (Remembrance Day May 1)

"'If you had known Me, you should have known My Father also; and from henceforth you know Him, and have seen Him.' Philip said unto Him, 'Lord show us the Father and it will be enough for us.'" John 14:7-8

Maybe our current age is not so much different from past times and cultures, but it seems to me that in Western society, at least, the abundance of time and resources has produced in us a restlessness that fosters a grasping, self-seeking, greedy spirit. Contentment is one word that is lacking in most household vocabularies. It seems as if it does not matter how much we have, we always want more. We strive after the next promotion in the office, we want the latest gadget or fashion trend, or we want one more week of vacation. And who ever has enough money? It seems as if our lives are a constant striving after that which is bigger, newer, better, or cutting-edge. Unfortunately, what applies to the secular environment can also be found in the spiritual. Spiritual contentment (not to be confused with mere passivity) is as rare in the Church as in the world. We are forever seeking out the latest praise song, the newest technology to help us worship and fellowship, the most current life-changing seminar, the cutting-edge means and methods to build up the kingdom, the newest book to mold our theology or personal behavior, or larger sanctuaries and ministry centers for the glory of God. We run from gathering to gathering collecting personal blessing or a new word from the Lord or a fresh experience with God. But these things are no more fulfilling then their counterparts in the secular world. They are a quick "fix" that gives us a momentary mountain-top feeling, but always leaves us wanting more. They sometimes keep us from the depths of spiritual contentment that really needs to be present in our lives. If we were more content, I believe we would live more consistently day to day instead of living like we were on a roller-coaster. We choose the role of Martha "encumbered with much serving" instead of the role of Mary whom the Lord said had "chosen that good part which shall not be taken away." (John 10:38-42). But in every age of the Church there have been those who have learned and lived in true spiritual contentment, recognizing those things that are "needful" and finding in them everything that is sufficient for the day. Such a man was Philip, the Apostle.

Philip finds a more prominent place in the New Testament Scriptures than many of the other apostles. He appears in each of the four lists of Apostles found in the synoptic evangelists and in each of the lists appears fifth after Peter, Andrew, James and John. Many historians have concluded that he was a follower of John the Baptist. There are several arguments for this. First, his calling is only recorded in the gospel of John (John 1:43-46). John was one of the disciples of the Baptist (more than a casual or curious on-looker) and would have been acquainted with other disciples including Philip. He therefore records details of his calling that no other evangelist does. Second, Philip has a longing and expectancy for the coming of the Messiah that is likely to have been ignited by the teaching of the Baptist. After his calling he seeks out Nathanael to share the proclamation that "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write." (i.e. the Messiah). Note the use of the plural word "we", implying that he was part of a larger circle of seekers.

The early Church fathers believe him to be descended from the tribe of Zebulun and in the New Testament and writings of the Church Fathers, he is referred to as Philip, the Apostle, to distinguish him from Philip, the deacon and evangelist (mentioned in Acts 6:5, Acts 8:4-14, Acts 8:25-40 and Acts 21:8-9). He is recorded as speaking three other times in the gospels, all recorded in the gospel of John. The first is found in John 6:1-7.at the feeding of the 5,000. Philip was confronted by Jesus who questioned him concerning how they intended to feed the gathered crowd. Philip answered from an honest assessment of the need, "Two hundred denarii's worth of bread is not sufficient for them [the crowd] that each of them might have a little." He then witnesses the great miracle that Jesus did with only five loaves and two small fish. The second is found in John 12:20-22 when the Greeks arrived at the feast seeking Jesus. Philip came with Andrew to Jesus to announce them and instead received a revelation about Jesus's death, the seed that dies in the ground to bring forth much fruit. Each of these instances was a personal step deeper into the very heart of Jesus. Moving from "We have found the Messiah", to seeing the sufficiency of Jesus in any circumstance, to receiving the calling to follow in the sacrificial life of the Christ, Philip grew in his knowledge of his Lord. The third reference seems to complete his training. In John's gospel we read the details of the Last Supper in which many of the disciples asked questions or interacted with Christ in a time of uncertainty, growing threat and veiled revelations of the Lord's death. In John 14:7-12 Philip shows that he at least has his priorities right. "Lord, show us the Father and it will be enough for us." Jesus responds that in Him the fullness of the Father is to be seen and known. And that is sufficient for Philip.

What little more we know of him comes from records contained in Eusebius' History of the Church. In Book 3, Chapter 30 Eusebius quotes Clement, bishop of Alexandria as stating that Philip was married, had children, and had given his daughters in marriage. In Book 3, Chapter 31 he quotes Polycrates, bishop of Ephesus writing to Victor, bishop of Rome as saying "For in Asia also, mighty luminaries have fallen asleep....Philip, one of the twelve apostles who sleeps in Hierapolis." A fragment preserved from Papius, bishop of Hierapolis, states that he knew Philip and that he worked notable miracles including raising someone from the dead. Philip shares a remembrance day with St. James, the Less and is said to have ministered in central Asia and in Greece. There are contradictory stories concerning his death; some state he died a natural death and others that he was crucified under the Roman emperor Domitian. Little is known with certainty.

Let us return to the point at which we began and ask what lesson we can learn from the life of Philip. In a world in which true contentment is evasive at best, we see in the life of Philip an example of a man who recognizes the fullness of life when it is presented before him and who recognizes that its apprehension is sufficient. In his dual declarations "We have found the One...." and "Show us the Father and it is enough for us" we find a model for spiritual contentment. It is that contentment that produces a consistent, steadfast life that is wholly devoted to the Lord and His command, a life through which God is free to pour healing and grace and power. Let us never trade our simple devotion to Christ and his gospel for any self-gratification that the world or the practice of religion offers (II Corinthians 11:1-3). For as Paul declares elsewhere (Colossians 2:9-10) the fullness of God dwells in Christ and in Him, we are made complete (and to this I add content).