REFLECTIONS TODAY
The Synoptic Gospels tell us nothing of Philip, except that he is one of the Twelve. In John, however, he is given more prominence. Here, in the midst of Jesus’ solemn pronouncements during the Last Supper, he interrupts with the remark, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us” (v 8). Philip asks Jesus for a personal experience of what he has been told. In this connection, Pope Benedict XVI reminds us to recall the aim to which our whole life must aspire: to encounter Jesus as Philip encountered him, seeking to perceive in him God himself, the heavenly Father. Philip teaches us to let ourselves be won over by Jesus, to be with him, and in seeing, finding God, to find true life. Though very little is known of James the Less (to distinguish him from James, the brother of John), he is one of the holy men whom the Lord chose in his perfect love and to whom he gave eternal glory. At the Last Supper, Jesus addressed the apostles, “It is you who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel” (Lk 22:28-30).
Gospel • Jn 14:6-14
Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.” *Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]); Website: [http://www.stpauls.ph](http://www.stpauls.ph).*