Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.
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.”
“I am in the Father and the Father is in me”
Fr. Jacques PHILIPPE (Cordes sur Ciel, France)Today, we are invited to recognize in Jesus the Father who reveals himself to us. Philip expresses a very accurate insight: “show us the Father, and that will be enough for us” (Jn 14:8). To see the Father is to discover God as origin, as life that springs forth, as generosity, as a gift that constantly renews all things. What more do we need? We come from God, and every person, even if unaware of it, carries within them the deep desire to return to God, to rediscover the Father's house and remain there forever. There we find all the blessings we could ever desire: life, light, love, peace… Saint Ignatius of Antioch, who was martyred at the beginning of the second century, said: “There is living water in me, water that murmurs and says within me: ‘Come to the Father.’”
Jesus gives us a glimpse of the profound mutual intimacy that exists between him and the Father. “I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (Jn 14:11). What Jesus says and does finds its source in the Father, and the Father is fully expressed in Jesus. Everything the Father wishes to tell us is found in the words and deeds of the Son. Everything He wants to accomplish for us, He accomplishes through His Son. Believing in the Son allows us to have "access to the Father" (Eph 2:18).
Humble and faithful faith in Jesus, the choice to follow and obey Him day after day, puts us in the mysterious yet real contact with the very mystery of God, and makes us beneficiaries of all the riches of His benevolence and mercy. This faith allows the Father to carry forward, through us, the work of grace He began in His Son: “Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do" (Jn 14:12).
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
“Let us pray as God our Teacher has taught us. For since He says, that whatsoever we shall ask of the Father in His name, He will give us, how much more effectually do we obtain what we ask in Christ's name, if we ask for it in His own prayer!.” (Saint Cyprian)
“The Lord’s invitation to encounter him is made to each of you, in whatever place or situation you find yourself. It suffices to have an openness to letting him encounter you unfailingly each day.” (Francis)
“Christ's whole earthly life - his words and deeds, his silences and sufferings, indeed his manner of being and speaking - is Revelation of the Father. Jesus can say: ‘Whoever has seen me has seen the Father’ (Jn 14:9), and the Father can say: ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ (Lk 9:35) …” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 516)
Other comments
“If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
Fr. Iñaki BALLBÉ i Turu (Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)Today, the Fourth Saturday of Easter, the Church invites us to consider how important it is for all Christians to be aware that they need to know Christ more and more. Which tools can we rely upon for this? Several, and all of them fundamental: well pondered and attentive reading of the Gospel; our personal involvement when praying, by trying hard to make our prayers become a true dialogue of love, not a mere introspective monologue, and the daily renewed effort to discover Christ in our fellow men: our relatives, our friends, a neighbor perhaps in need of our attention and help, of our advice, of our friendship.
“Master, show us the Father”, asks Philip (Jn 14:8). A good request for us to keep on repeating all this Saturday. —Lord, show me Your face. And we may wonder: how is our behavior? Can others see Christ's reflection in me? What little thing could I fight for today? We Christians must find that divine something in our daily chores; God's footprint in all that surrounds us. In our job, in our social life amongst others, everywhere! Or, when we are sick, too: when we are ill it is a good time for us to identify ourselves with a suffering Christ. As St. Therese of the Child Jesus said, “if we do not decide ourselves to swallow once and for all our death and our lack of health, we shall never do anything.”
The Lord of the Gospel assures us: “If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.” (Jn 14:13). —God is my Father and, as a loving Father, He looks after me: He does not want anything to hurt me. Everything that happens —everything that happens to me— is meant for my sanctification. Even though, with our own human eyes we might not understand it. Even though we can never understand it. That thing —whatever it is— happens because God allows it to happen. Let us trust Him just as the Virgin Mary trusted Him too.
