Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter Year 1 2023

Peter H. Davids

Easter • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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The world is divided into seekers and non-seekers, as we see in Acts, but the purpose of God's people is to be a light to the nations. Jesus' band was seekers and he wants them to know that they have found the Father to the degree that they are in union with him and meditate on his words and works. Yet because he is going to the Father, he will release the mission of the people of God to them; that is, he will be in them speaking the Father's words and doing the Father's works. They will be his face in mission to the world. That is the standard by which to judge what we do in mission.

Notes

Transcript

Title

Show Us the Father

Outline

There are seekers and non-seekers

Some folk are content with their traditions, which may be religious, their society, and their passions, meaning that material good in some form is their goal in life. Unless you can wake up their search for the Father it is useless to try to lead them to Jesus.

Other people seek God. They are the true devotees of various religions and spiritual practices, even if they know nothing of God. They may or may not persecute committed Christians, depending on how they see them affecting their quest individually and communally. They can be draw to the Father through Jesus. And, of course, we are among them, for our hearts were drawn to the Father, perhaps from baptism or perhaps from some awakening point in our lives.

In either case, we and other people are drawn to the Father through Jesus, usually by seeing Jesus embodied in us as Jesus embodied the Father.

We see the split between the two groups in Acts

The Jews felt that they had a privileged position with God due to birth and tradition. They also had influence in the city as at least leading women saw them as representatives of the one God, an idea that went back to Socrates.

These Jews felt that it was their duty and in their interest to attack Paul’s message, for it brought in a Jewish king, Jesus, and threatened them as conduits to God. Paul, following the teaching he would develop in Romans chapter 11, views them as the natural branches on the tree of the people of God, and since they have rejected being a light to the Gentiles, he would turn to the Gentiles directly and they would spread the message.

There are conversions, but there is also hostility that ends up with Paul driven out of town. Likely circumcision was a major point at issue.

Jesus speaks to those who were already accepting him as revealing the Father

Philip wants more, he wants direct access: “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus tells Philip that he unknowingly already has direct access: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. . . . Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”

Then he points to the evidence: words and works. “The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.”

Enter more deeply into my words and works and let them enter more deeply into your heart in meditation and you will come closer to the Father.

But there is more. Remember that God’s people in both OT and NT are to be a light to the nations. Remember Jesus sends out his disciples to preach his message. Well, “whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

Often this is interpreted as getting anything we want from God through Jesus. That ignores the context. As they become one with Jesus they will enter into his mission, speaking his words and doing his works. As Jesus returns to the presence of the Father they will be, in a sense, drawn closer and therefore be Jesus on earth, everywhere. They ask for the works and words needed in the mission and Jesus does it. That is, the whole church speaks and acts in persona Christi capitas and in union with the Father so long as they act “in my name” - in my character, out of prayer to me, according to my will.

So, sisters, we are sent into mission

There is the seeking upward as we through prayer and meditation seek to become more and more one with Jesus.

And there is the mission outward, as the Father through Jesus seeks the seekers in the world through us, but only as we are doing mission in union with him.

And that is the critical question to ask in mission: is it flowing out of my union with Jesus and thus with the Father? Am I doing it in his name, presenting using his character, words and works to the world? Then we will be a light to the nations and many seekers will be drawn into true life.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 5-6-2023: Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter

FIRST READING

Acts 13:44–52

44 On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. 46 Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

48 The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, 49 and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. 50 The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. 51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 The disciples were filled with joy and the holy Spirit.

Catholic Daily Readings 5-6-2023: Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter

RESPONSE

Psalm 98:3cd

3 He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness

toward the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the victory of our God.

PSALM

Psalm 98:1–4

1 A psalm.

Sing a new song to the LORD,

for he has done marvelous deeds.

His right hand and holy arm

have won the victory.

2 The LORD has made his victory known;

has revealed his triumph in the sight of the nations,

3 He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness

toward the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the victory of our God.

4 Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth;

break into song; sing praise.

Catholic Daily Readings 5-6-2023: Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 8:31b–32

31 Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

GOSPEL

John 14:7–14

7 If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. 12 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 5-6-2023: Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 | EASTER

SATURDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER

YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Acts 13:44–52

Response Psalm 98:3cd

Psalm Psalm 98:1–4

Gospel Acclamation John 8:31b–32

Gospel John 14:7–14

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