Saints Philip and James, Apostles – Feast
First Saturday – let us entrust ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
First reading 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
On this feast of Saints Philip and James, the Church invites us to reflect more deeply on the foundation of our faith which is the unchanging Gospel rooted in the lived encounter with the Risen Lord. Saint Paul, writing to the Corinthians, urgently reminds them and us that “the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you; believing anything else will not lead to anything.” This is not a call to rigid ideology, but to fidelity to a truth that was not invented, but received. The Apostles did not proclaim abstract concepts or evolving philosophies; they handed on what they themselves had seen, heard, and touched, the living Christ who had triumphed over death. Their preaching was born from this transformative encounter, and it became the bedrock of the Church’s mission. In a world tempted by novelty and customization even in matters of faith, today’s celebration reminds us that salvation flows not from adapting the Gospel to suit our preferences, but from allowing the Gospel to reshape us. This Easter season, we are called once more to renew our trust in the apostolic witness, to cling to what we have received, and to let the truth of the Resurrection be not just a doctrine we recite, but an encounter with the person of Risen Christ. Let’s reflect: Easter is the living power of the Risen Christ, faithfully received and proclaimed through the apostolic witness, which calls us to be transformed by the unchanging truth of the Gospel.
Don Giorgio