Intimacy - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

Sunday, June 8, 2025

I remember I was 24 years old. I had recently come back to church after being away for a while and I had become an Episcopalian.

I wasn't one of these people yet, but I was out there. I used to sit towards the back, like over there. And I remember sitting in church one Sunday and this Gospel that we heard today was read. And Jesus said, have you been with me all this time, Philip? And still you do not know me. If you don't know, my name is Philip, and I've heard that text many times, but that day I remember it was as if Jesus was speaking directly to me.

Now, I am nothing if not incredibly self-centered, and I love when Jesus says my name, but I really, I remember that day being, hearing Jesus say to me, have you been with me all this time, Philip? And still you do not know me. And I remember thinking, yeah, that's about right. Jesus. Yeah. I have been with you my whole life and still sometimes I have no idea what you are up to.