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Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
1 Corrinthians 15:1-8
Psalms 19:2-3, 4-5
John 14:6-14
S
UMMARY
In the first reading, Saint Paul reminds the Christian
community of Corinth of the Gospel using a primi-
tive creed. In the Gospel, Jesus reveals to the apos-
tles that He is “...the way, the truth, and the life” and
that He and the Father are one.
R
EFLECTION
Today’s first reading made me think about the Creeds. Like many of you,
I’ve prayed the Nicene Creed and the Apostles Creed hundreds of thou-
sands of times. Most of the time I can focus on the meaning and gravity of
what I’m saying, but sometimes I’m distracted by personal problems and
my mind wanders to other things. It is important to me to be mindful
when reciting them. The Creeds unite us with other Christians, past and
present, standing beside us in the pews and on the other side of the world.
I like the feeling of connection and communion. Since the Creeds are sum-
maries of the Gospel, we are making a considered choice to reaffirm our
beliefs and commitments every time we recite them. Perhaps most impor-
tantly, the Creeds remind us which beliefs are truly essential. The Creeds
remind us of who we are, what our mission is, and what we are destined to
become. Used improperly, the Creeds can become a litmus test or a strict,
suffocating rubric of belief. However, the Creeds can be used as guides
and touchstones for our faith. The Creeds have pointed the way when the
Church has faced challenges in past ages and will continue to do so today.
Similarly, the Creeds direct us towards actions that reflect the Gospel as we
face challenges in our own lives.