Philip Neri

Today is the feast of the Apostle of Rome. St Philip Neri of the 16th century.

He spent his life ministering to the parishes in Rome and to the people all about.

Here are the words of Jesus in today's gospel:

"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this than to lay down his life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you."


Here are the words of St. Philip Neri:

"My Jesus, my love, all the world is vanity. HE who wishes for anything other than Christ does not know what he wishes. HE who asks for anything other than Christ does not know what he is asking. He who works and not for Christ does not know what he is doing."


When we follow Christ we are following the one who promises to give us lasting joy. And who in this world does not want Joy that is lasting?

Who in this world does not want to experience that deep satisfying embrace of happiness and joy that lingers in the heart long after the circumstances change and change and change some more?

This why Philip Neri says these words: "He who wishes for anything other than Christ does not know what he wishes...HE who works and not for Christ does not know what he is doing."


Anything less than Christ is not true joy, is not true happiness, is not lasting but only fleeting. In our world we have grasped at to often for superficial joy only to be let down time and time again.

Today, examine what you reach for to give you joy and see how often you reach for that other than Christ. Perhaps this is why so many in our society are thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. They have to keep piling one experience on top of the other and discover that they need more and more.

We are a society of addicts. Yet what would it be like if we were truly committed to Christ.

How would we relate and act if joy was the primary reality in our life.

In truth, joy is not a feeling, it its is not a choice, it is not an experience, it i snot an emotion, it is primarily a presence. Joy is the presence of Christ inhabiting our soul.


In the words of Jesus, "if you keep my commandments, you ill remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love."

For Christ, to reman in his love is to be in his presence.

In his commandment, we know where we stand before God; this knowing is what secures our joy complete.


St. Philip Neri pray for us