"Whoever sees me sees the Father"

5th Sunday of Easter

May 18, 2014

Jn 14:1-12

In the Exodus event Moses requested YHWH to show him YHWH’s face (glory). YHWH replied, “…no one shall see me and live…you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen … (Ex 33: 20, 23).” In our Gospel today Philip asked Jesus, “Lord show us the Father and that is enough.” Jesus said to him, “…Whoever sees me sees the Father…” Now, we have a dilemma here. Jesus is not here anymore. Is this the end of what Jesus proclaimed to Philip? Does it mean that we cannot see the Father anymore? If so, how do we see and encounter God now?

Since nobody has ever seen God, and Jesus is not with us in his previous incarnational presence, we usually go about defining God by faith, by what we see within ourselves, by the Word of God, and by relating to our neighbor. It is written in the Bible that we are created in the image and likeness of God. Also, we can go to the Church and meet God in the Sacraments and Traditions.

Through these means we could relate and know Jesus who is in the Father. Our faith teaches us that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior. Through his ministry we come to know the Father. He showed us how the Father cares for us, more than the ravens and the flowers. He made known to us the Father who forgives sins and heals the wounds.

His resurrection brings us hope that we have a place in the reign of God. Through his resurrection he was able to show us that nothing can separate us from the love of the Father, that is, even death. His resurrection is a sign of our future – life after death. Therefore, in times when we cannot find God in the midst of sufferings let us look at Jesus who is in the Father. His passion, death and resurrection is a sign of the Father’s loving presence. Let us approach Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the way, the truth, and the life. We believe that there is no other way to God except through you. We beg you to give us the courage to imitate you in your relationship with God. May we also be a way toward you for many of our our brothers and sisters. May we be witnesses of your truth. Amen.

- Sem. Ren Ligeralde

Main source: eudistsphilippines.com...