Faith Daily | 1 May 2021

PRAYER of the DAY - EASTER FOUR APBA p510

O God,

whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people:

help us when hear his voice

to know him who calls us each by name,

and to follow where he leads;

who with you and the Holy Spirit

lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: John 14: 7-14

7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’

8 Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ 9Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by Anne MacRonald

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father

These words seem to me to be the most profound expressions in the New Testament. Jesus is explaining that the way to know his father is to look at him and the way he behaved. We see his kindness, his closeness to sinners and those on the margins of society. He accepted the frailty of the human world.

Philip was unsure and wanted proof of the presence of the Father.

As human beings we have the ability to question and ask for proof and then we believe . At least we are able to see and hear each other but Jesus requires us to trust and believe without seeing him and that is not always easy.

With his words to Philip Jesus was empowered by the Father to perform great works and we are being invited to share in the life of God and to do what God does.

In the words of the 13th Century prayer

“Dear Lord, three things I pray: to see you more clearly, love you more dearly , and follow you more nearly, day by day.

FINAL PRAYER: Richard of Chichester, 13th century

Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus

For all the benefits you have given me,

For all the pains and insults

You have borne for me.

O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,

Of you three things I pray:

To see you more clearly,

Love you more dearly,

Follow you more nearly,

Day by day.

Amen