In today’s Gospel we are given a window into the intimacy of the Upper Room at the Last Supper. We hear a part of what is Our Lord’s “Farewell Discourse.” On that solemn night, knowing what would take place within hours, Our Lord does not focus himself and all that would befall him. His focus is on those he loves—his apostles. Knowing well their foibles and weaknesses, He wanted to encourage and help them.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled…have faith…” he tells them. “I am going away…but I am going to prepare a place for you.” and he reveals to them something of the intimacy of his relationship with His heavenly Father. It not surprising however that in the midst of this precious discourse, the apostles interrupt the Lord.
Philip says, “Show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” He expresses his desire to see, to know, to experience something of what Our Lord experiences in the intimacy of his union with the Father. We see Philip’s exuberance, his enthusiasm. [Remember it was Philip who brought the skeptical Nathaniel to the Lord: “Come and see!” He was also eager that visiting Greeks be given an audience with Jesus.]
Yet rather than compliment Philip’s zeal, Our Lord gently rebukes him. Philip does not understand, even after being with the Lord so long, living in his company; listening to his words, and witnessing his mighty deeds.
Philip is not alone in his desire for faith and he is not alone in his lack of understanding. Philip mirrors the apostles and each of us. How often our spiritual life, our desire to cultivate our friendship with the Lord is disturbed by the problems and stresses of life. How often we implore the Lord: “Show yourself! Where are you Lord? Why is this happening to me? Do you hear me, Lord? Do you care for me, Lord?”
The apostles did not understand that since the day the Lord called them, they were in presence of the Father, that being with Jesus, they were in the Divine Presence. In the Incarnation, God gave himself a human face, the Face of Jesus and looking upon the Face of Jesus, they were looking upon the Father.
Since the day of our Baptism, we have had the Lord with us. He is not distant. He is not to be searched out but He is ever present to us—in his Word, in his Eucharist, and in His Church. His voice, the voice of Truth can be heard every time we open the Scriptures. His very Body and Blood, the precious gift that came from that Upper Room sustains us on our life’s journey. It is the pledge of future glory given to us.
Today let us pray that stresses and burdens of life may not obscure our ability to see and to know that the Lord is near. Our Lord did not become human to take away our problems but to teach us to cope with them. He wants to lead us through them, supporting and strengthening us on the way.
Today our nation honors women, who in so many ways reflect God’s presence to us. St. Therese’, the “Little Flower” said, “The greatest masterpiece of the Heart of God, is the heart of a mother.” Today we thank our mothers for their love and pray that the Lord may keep them close to his Sacred Heart.
