Reflections on Scripture | Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
John 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."

Reflection

It's clear from the way this story unfolds that the disciples had a hard time believing, trusting, and they really had a hard time believing that they were being called to act in the world, just as Jesus acted in the world and became a healer. And one of the things that’s clear in this work that Jesus is describing is he's not asking each of us to go out there and do this work to help people.

He's asking us to believe that he is in us, and we need to allow him, through us to do his work. It's so important that you see that you are not the source of the goodness that God has intended you to be able to give to others. It is his presence in you that is the healing force.

Closing Prayer

Father, we wonder what is it that we should be asking you that pleases you? And nothing seems clearer to me then if we say to you, use me. Work through me. Let me be an instrument that is the vehicle through which you do the work of salvation. It keeps us humble, thankful, and radically excited about what we see being done for those that we love. Your work through us, in them. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross