Feast of Saints
Philip and James, apostles
(I Corinthians 15:1-8; John 14:6-14)
Saul, the first king of Israel, was recognized for his
good looks. He is introduced in the
Bible in this way: “There was no Israelite handsomer than Saul; he stood head
and shoulders above the people” (I Sam 9:2b).
One commentator says that his demeanor was what most recommended him to
be king. In contrast, nothing is said in
Scripture of how Jesus looked. Nothing.
Yet he tells Philip in today’s gospel that anyone who sees him, sees God
the Father.
Philip is asking for a theophany. He wants an experience of God like Moses had
at the burning bush. He expects to see
something that would be called “awesome” today.
Jesus corrects his largely mistaken notion that the experience of God is
always earth-shaking. When he identifies
seeing the Father with seeing himself, he has his self-sacrificing love in mind. Jesus preaches, teaches, and most of all
lives this love. That is what his
Father, as well, is all about.
Philip is no slower learner than we are. We too often look for a revelation of God in
fantastic ways. The truth is that God
reveals Himself to us daily. He appears
every time someone goes out of her way to help another. When we perform such acts, we become His angels.
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