Commentary on the Gospel of
There are two kinds of images: images of real things and delusions. Delusions may come from many sources – for example, from our imagination about ourselves or other people, which we started to believe in, or from mental illness, where an ill brain may create images of the things that do not exist. Images of the real things are usually images of the material world, they are true, although, superficial images because as human beings we are not able to see the whole spectrum of the world. To be honest, we cannot see a major part of the world which we do know exists. This rule works with our ability to get know people as well. We may be wrong if we stop at the external image – nice face, smile and kind words might be confusing.
Are the Twelve wrong about Jesus, have they just stopped at the external image? Philip, one of the Twelve asked Jesus to show the Father but, seeing whole reality, this is Jesus who is an image of the Father. ‘Open your eyes (Philip), look up to the skies and see’ we would say. Both Philip and the other Apostles need this special grace of the Spirit which may enable them to perceive words and deeds, to see Jesus doing His Father’s works. Jesus makes a real pressure on properly reading his deeds because they are not dark art nor tricks. Reading them properly means to believe in the Father which, in turn, extends Jesus’ mission. This is real Mission 2.0, the next stage – as we may say in modern language – when this apostolic community filled with faith and the Holy Spirit performs the same work: spreading the Gospel, breaking bread, including people into the community of the Church. They are going to do much more because they believe. However, would they really do the greater things that Jesus did? In the terms of the Cross obviously not, but in the terms of the Gospel spreading across the world they do. It is his promise fulfilled with the spirit.
Now is our turn. The time to open our eyes and see, open our hearts and take the power of the Spirit. This is the real glory of the Father – people living in unity with Jesus.
