Episode 160 -- Life of St Philip XIV.160 -- Family and Following Christ

We read about two young women who were sick. One was a nine year old girl with a strange disease on her nose. The other was a consecrated virgin who died suddenly when she was only 21. St Philip was asked by the nine year old girl's mother to help. He did so. When the sister of the consecrated virgin came to St Philip for confession, he told her to go visit her sister at once. No one knew she was even sick. But St Philip wanted her sister to help her at the end. It is true that God often makes his followers to sacrifice being in regular contact with their families. It is true that St Philip himself left his father and mother and gave up having a family of his own to serve the Lord. On the other hand, God called James and John to his service. They were brothers. Peter and Andrew were also brothers. Elizabeth and Mary, Jesus and John the Baptist were relatives. God sometimes calls close relatives to an even higher friendship. What matters in Christ. Our bond with him is primary!