Jesus said to Thomas: 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment, you know him and have seen him.' Philip said, 'LORD, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.' Have I been with you all this time, Philip,' said Jesus to him' and you still do not know me? 'To have seen me is to have seen the Father, so how can you say, "Let us see the Father?" Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.
I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask for in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.' John 14:6-14 Reflection I always appreciate invitations to birthdays, baptisms, feastdays or a shared cup of coffee with a close friend. In this Gospel passage, we see where Philip having spent time with Jesus has not yet fully recognised him and is offered an invitation to know Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life; this knowledge will lead him and all who listen to this invitation into a deep, contemplative, relationship with the Father and the Son. They will share in the works of God and 'will perform even greater works'.
From this place of intimacy, we are invited to be by joyful co-creators sharing God's unconditional love in our wounded world. It is a wonderful opportunity to participate in the healing, liberating empowering mission of Father and Son. We pray in faith for all who suffer today. We join our voices with those of a male Welsh choir who having learnt the words of the Ukranian National Anthem sing in solidarity with the wounded, displaced victims of war. We remember the families who cry out to be united with their loved ones and with all who mourn the loss of those who have fallen in conflicts across the world. In trust we know that anything that we ask in Jesus's name he will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Let us not be afraid to accept his many life-giving invitations to fullness of life each day.
Comments