Commentary on the Gospel of
Ask, and you will receive
In today’s Gospel passage, we encounter Philip’s heartfelt plea: “Lord, show us the Father.” Philip’s yearning mirrors our own—a longing to glimpse the divine, to find solace in God’s presence. Jesus responds with profound simplicity: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” But what does this mean for us here and now?
It is not unusual to hear these questions from our surroundings: Where is God? Is God real? What is God like? For us Christians, the question has already been answered. God is like Jesus. To know the person and teachings of Jesus is to know God.
Evangelist John uses Philip’s misunderstanding to underline his message to his community: Jesus is the Son of God the Father. If anyone wishes to see God the Father, look at His Son, who revealed himself to us.
Father Ron Rolheiser explains that Jesus not only discloses the Father to us but also resides within us through the Holy Spirit. He urges us to acknowledge our own ability to display the Father's love and presence in our relationships with others. We are summoned to be vessels of divine love, reflecting the Father's empathy, kindness, and forgiveness.
The Gospel ends with a huge promise: If we ask, we will receive. When we ask in Jesus’s name, it's not that Jesus passes on our prayers to God the Father on our behalf; instead, the Father will personally and immediately grant us! So, why don't we make requests in order to receive and experience complete joy?
Today, let us make a list of the most authentic needs of your heart and go shopping with the Lord at his store of blessings.
