Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

“That will be enough for us”?  Probably not.  We humans never seem to have enough certainty and trusting deeply in God is a lifelong process.

That kind of doubt is what Jesus seems to be facing from his followers today.  He tells his disciples as clearly as he can, “If you know me, then you will also know my Father.  From now on you do know him and have seen him.”  It’s a powerful and direct statement assuring them that they already know the Father because they know Jesus. The next line in the gospel Philip asks Jesus, ““Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”  Jesus, probably discouraged at these followers he loved so much, said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?”  It wasn’t just Philip but all of the disciples who had spent so much time with Jesus, yet still did not believe or understand who he was.

The gospel has a remarkable message today as Jesus says whoever believes in him “will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these.”  He is inviting us to really put our faith in him and from the strength of that faith we will continue with his works and his ministry.  If I am limited in the works I do, it’s not because I haven’t seen enough or that there is not enough evidence, but because I simply don’t believe I can do more. 

Jesus, help me to be more aware of your presence with me today, and to remember to talk to you, and to listen.  Then, not only can I think of the works of mercy and healing you did, but I can do them in my own life, my family and my world.