Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday of the second week of Easter, May 3, 2025, Feast of Saint James and Philip, Apostles

Delivered by Randy from the Parish of Kristus Raja Andalas in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. 1 Corinthians 15: 1-8; Rs psalm 19: 2-3.4-5; John 14: 6-14.TOCOMPLEMENT EACH OTHER Thetitle of our meditation today is: To Complement Each Other. There was a couplewho have just married making a confession of one to another. The husbandacknowledged that his personal strength was a strong conviction he could relyon. Whatever decision he took, he would keep it and not change. However, he hada specific weakness namely his anger and aggressive reaction that he could notcontrol. Forher part, the wife admitted that she always got confused. For example, whendeciding to cook certain types of food for the family, she needed time to askquestions and discuss things. She felt difficult to decide for herself. However,she had a good quality which was a virtue naturally fits to a woman namelyfaithfulness. She was so convinced that her love for her husband was total andsincere. Then they both made a promise to understand and accept who they reallywere and what actually they had. And they assumed together a commitment theymust constantly respect and esteem that they must complement each other. Aharmonious, balance and peaceful life should be founded on the complementarityof individuals and different element of things. The nature of man as a socialbeing determines this basic need, among others, through the divine providencethat already made first man and woman to live and follow this complementarity natureas human beings. In the early Church the two figures of the apostles whosefeast-day we celebrate today also provide us a very clear picture of thedifferences between them. Theapostle James was known as a person who was strong in his conviction and faithfulin his commitment to follow Jesus the Messiah. He proved to be the leader ofthe Jerusalem Church during the time of the early Church. His stance was firmand profound, so he and Saint Peter were the pillars of the Church from thebeginning. Whereas the apostle Philip, as told by the Gospel of today, was aperson who, despite all his time following Christ, was still struggling withhis confusion. He may be considered as part of the slow learners, indifferent,or perhaps belong to the people who naturally are confused. TheLord Jesus indeed calls each one of us with all our shortcomings to form andbuild the Church and His Kingdom. It doesn't matter if we are different but weare happy, willing and determined to live together. We do not hate or evenbeing hostile to differences in each person. Every weakness and negativeelement of each person will be completed by another person’s qualities. Godpleases to bless and complete everything, because He had proven in using theapostles James and Philip to build His Church. You and I also can do the same,and because of that God calls us.Let's pray. In thename of the Father ... O Jesus Christ, strengthen us with all the differencesbetween us, so that we become good instruments to strengthen our unity amongbrothers and sisters. Hail Mary full of grace ... In the nameof the Father ...