Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Easter • Sermon • Submitted
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· 5 viewsWe focus on the gospels because in them we see Jesus who is one with the Father. Knowing Jesus, we pray to the Father through Jesus and the Father and the Son work in our context the words and works they did in Jesus.
Notes
Transcript
Title
Title
Show Us the Father
Outline
Outline
The Catholic Church, east and west, is centered on the Gospel
The Catholic Church, east and west, is centered on the Gospel
Both East and West there are Gospel processions
In all parts of the Church gospel books were among the first created and have long been reverenced
(I have recently obtained facsimile editions of the Book of Kells and the Lindesfarne Gospels)
Now this is not true of many Protestant communities, which often center on Paul
The reason for such Catholic devotion is found in Philip’s question, “Lord, show us the Father.”
Jesus responds that to see the Father one need only focus on him
Jesus responds that to see the Father one need only focus on him
Jesus says, “He who has seen me has seen the Father”
Then he goes on to say, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.”
Jesus and the Father are so much one that they interpenetrate.
Jesus and the Father are so much one that the words and the works of Jesus come from the Father
And that explains the whole Christian life
And that explains the whole Christian life
We focus on the Gospels for they present the Father in a form in which we can perceive him, that is, they present the Father in Jesus in both word and deed
We focus on prayer through Jesus because he is with the Father
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.” That commitment, that oneness with Jesus, connects us to the divine union and the Father works through us.
So prayer is not asking for our will, but for the will of Jesus - in his name - and then the Father/Jesus works it so for his honor (seen in the believer)
“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; 14 if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.”
This is not our ideas about what will honor God, much less about what will please us, but Jesus’ knowing what honors the Father being worked through our prayers for he is praying in us and his working that in and sometimes through us
And that is why we read, mark, and meditate upon the Gospels, for there we see Jesus in human form and context and there we see the Father in him
Readings
Readings
First Reading
44 The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
‘I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’ ”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Gospel
7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who 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 say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; 14 if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
Notes
Notes