Joy - finding Jesus in the midst of pain and problems

The Joyful Spirit of Philip

For the past several months, I have been corresponding with a former naval officer by the name of Philip. He left the Navy after receiving a diagnosis of a cancerous brain tumor. Now he is pursuing what has long been his goal – the priesthood.

Despite the agony of chemotherapy, radiation and constant headaches, Philip has a joyful spirit, deep faith and abiding hope. This Sunday’s Gospel tells the story of another Philip. The Greeks come to him and say, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip tells Andrew and together they go and tell Jesus. We never find out in the reading if the group gets to see Jesus. But we all need a Philip to bring us to Jesus and to share with us their hopes and joys, sorrows and disappointments, triumphs and disasters.

Lent is drawing to a close. Our scripture readings focus our hearts and minds more intently on the passion of Christ as we journey closer to Holy Week. What has happened to us during this Lent? Have we expressed the desire of those in the Gospel who wanted to see Jesus and have we looked for him not only in the Scriptures but in the lives of those who we come in contact with on a daily basis? Lent continues to invite us to see Jesus in the beauty the surrounds us, in the rain the clears away the pollen, in the joy we experience with friends, in the brokenness that reminds us of our vulnerability.

Now more than ever, we are invited to look at the cross and to be reminded that this is where we find true life. Since I came to Holy Spirit in 2002, I have used a very large cross for the Good Friday Veneration. It takes some time for the entire congregation to come forward and venerate it. Some genuflect, some bow, some touch it, many kiss it, but all come with a sense of awe and devotion for this is where we find our salvation. For the past several weeks, that cross has been used as the Cross of Compassion where anyone can post a prayer, a request, an intention. All of these prayers will be place in our Easter fire on Holy Saturday night. They are all expressions of a desire to see Jesus and to feel his love in our lives.

I hope and pray that your Lenten journey has helped you to see Jesus in your joys and sorrows, hopes and aspirations and in the lives of those you live and work and play with. May you have the joyful spirit of Philip who continues to see good in all things.

Msgr. James Flaherty