Reflection: John 14:6-14

Saints Philip and James, Feast – John 14:6-14

Today Jesus told his disciples that if they know him, they also will know His Father.  Philip then asked Jesus to show them His Father.  He goes on to say that if Jesus shows them His Father, then they will believe in what Jesus is saying.

Jesus must have been deeply disappointed in Philip and his need for proof.  Philip had been with him for a long time but clearly he still did not completely believe and trust Jesus. He wanted proof.  Jesus must have wondered why, after all their time together, Philip and the other disciples still did not understand who He was. What would it take to for them to believe and trust who He was?

How often do we ask Jesus for proof? At times, I also ask Jesus to send me a clear sign that He is with me.  I assume you also may do this.  If we receive a sign, then we will know for sure that Jesus is with us.  Faith and trust are difficult in our human relationships and perhaps even more so in our relationship with God and Jesus. At least, with human beings we can see them, hear them, and talk with them. We see their facial expressions and their body language. These expressions can communicate volumes of information to us.

However, we cannot see God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. To believe without proof is difficult for most human beings. However, Jesus desires that we believe and trust without seeing Him. We can choose to believe in Jesus and trust in his love and care for us or we can wander through life without an anchor, without anyone greater than ourselves in which to believe.

Belief and trust in Jesus is challenging, especially during difficult and trying times. At these times, I typically want to have a tangible sense that Jesus is with me. Every once in awhile, I am given a sign of some sort. However, most times I simply have to trust that Jesus is with me. This is not easy. However, when I am able to trust that Jesus is present with me, then I have more strength and hope.  These gifts of trust and hope enable me to open my mind and heart and to see Jesus.

Today may we ask Jesus to grace with the gifts of trust and hope in Him.  Most of all, may we trust Jesus to gift us with all we need.  Jesus is present with us every moment of every day, strengthening us and gracing us; however, we need to be awake and alert to His presence! If we are not awake, we will miss Him!