St. Philip followed Jesus for years without getting to fully know Him. When Jesus tested Philip’s faith before He multiplied the loaves and fish, Philip did not pass the test (Jn 6:6ff). When some Greeks wanted to see Jesus (Jn 12:21), Philip didn’t tell them to come and see Jesus, as he had earlier said to St. Nathanael (Jn 1:45-46). Instead, Philip went to tell St. Andrew, as if Philip had lost confidence in how to take someone to Jesus (Jn 12:22).

Philip needed to grow in faith. Yet in his weakness, God’s power reached perfection (2 Cor 12:9). God gave His power to Philip at the first Christian Pentecost. After Pentecost, Philip was a new person. He became a great leader in the early Church, one of the first missionaries, and a martyr for love of Jesus.

We all are like Philip. We are “weak flesh sold into the slavery of sin” (Rm 7:14). However, we are also like Philip in that we are called to live as new creations through a new Pentecost. The Holy Spirit confirms us, that is, strengthens us. In that way, God’s power reaches perfection in our weakness. Jesus promised that we, the weak, will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on us (Acts 1:8). Holy Spirit of power, come to the weak!

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