24 April 2027 · Latin Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: Syro-Malankara Rite · Syro-Malabar Rite · മലയാളം
“Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”” John 14:9
A week after Paul's sermon in the synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia, “almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.” The good news has spread through the whole town, among Jews and Gentiles alike. But success brings conflict. Some of the synagogue's leaders, seeing the crowds, are filled with jealousy and contradict Paul. Paul and Barnabas answer boldly: “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you.” Notice the word “first.” The apostles never stop going first to the synagogue in every town; God's promises were given to Israel, and Israel keeps its place in God's plan (Romans 11:29). Then they quote the Servant Song of Isaiah, applying it to their own mission: “I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” What was said of the Servant, and of Christ, is now the task of the Church.
The Gentiles hear this with joy; they “were glad and praised the word of the Lord,” and “the word of the Lord spread throughout the region.” Opposition grows; some of the city's leading men and devout women of high standing are stirred up, and Paul and Barnabas are driven out. Luke is describing a local conflict in one city, not the response of the whole Jewish people, and the Church reads such passages without any hostility to the Jews, our elder brothers in faith (Nostra Aetate 4). The apostles do what Jesus told them: they shake the dust off their feet and move on to Iconium. And then the most surprising line of all: “the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Driven out, and full of joy. That is Easter joy, which does not depend on success. The Psalm sings it: “All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.”
In the Gospel Philip makes a request that comes from the depths of every human heart: “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” And Jesus answers with gentle surprise: “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” In the face of Jesus, in his compassion, his words, his wounds, we see the face of God. Then Jesus makes two astonishing promises: those who believe in him will do “greater works” than his, because he is going to the Father; and “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Today the Church remembers St Fidelis of Sigmaringen. Mark Roy was a brilliant lawyer in Alsace who was called “the poor man's lawyer” because he defended the poor without payment. Sickened by the dishonesty of his profession, he became a Capuchin friar and took the name Fidelis, “faithful.” He was sent by the newly founded Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith to preach in the Swiss region of Graubünden, in a time of bitter religious and political conflict. On 24 April 1622, after preaching at Seewis, he was attacked and killed. He forgave his attackers as he died. He is honoured as the first martyr of that Congregation. Today Catholics and Protestants, recalling with sorrow the violence of those centuries on all sides, pray and work together as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Theme: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
A light for the nations, joy in rejection, and the face of the Father in Jesus.
“All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.” Psalm 98:3
“For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 13:47
Apply: Pray this week for one people or region in India that has not yet heard the Gospel.
“yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:18
“And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 13:52
Apply: When something you do for God is rejected, pray for those who rejected it and refuse to lose your joy.
“Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.”” Exodus 33:18
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9
Apply: Spend ten minutes this week before the Blessed Sacrament, asking: Lord, show me the Father.
The Church is sent to be a light to the nations, and her joy does not depend on success.
In Jesus we see the Father; like St Fidelis, we are called to be faithful until death.
Take-home resolution: This week, end every petition with “in the name of Jesus,” and keep your joy whatever happens.
Dear friends, in Antioch of Pisidia almost the whole city comes to hear the word of the Lord. But some are jealous and oppose Paul. And Paul says: it was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. God never forgets his promise to Israel. Then he turns to the Gentiles, saying: I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles (Acts 13:47).
The apostles are driven out of the city. What do they do? They shake off the dust and go on. And Luke says: the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52). Driven out, but full of joy!
That is Easter joy. It does not depend on success, on applause, on things going our way. It comes from the risen Lord living in us. Let us not lose our joy when things go wrong.
In the Gospel Philip says: Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied. And Jesus says: have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9). If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus: his mercy, his patience, his wounds.
Today we remember St Fidelis, a lawyer who helped the poor without payment and then became a Capuchin friar. His name means faithful. He went to preach in Switzerland in a time of great conflict, and he was killed in 1622, forgiving those who attacked him. He was faithful until death.
Let us ask for that faithfulness, and for the joy that no one can take away. And let us look at Jesus, to see the Father. Alleluia. Amen.
Children, Philip wanted to see God the Father. Jesus said: if you look at me, you see the Father!
When we look at Jesus, so kind and loving, we see what God is like. Let us say: Jesus, show me the Father!
Lord Jesus Christ, in you we see the Father, and in your name we may ask for anything. When the word we bring is welcomed, keep us humble; when it is rejected, keep us full of joy and of the Holy Spirit. Make us a light for the nations, as you sent Paul and Barnabas to be. By the prayers of St Fidelis, who gave up wealth to serve the poor and gave up his life for the faith, make us faithful until death, honest in our work and generous to the needy. Show us the Father, and we will be satisfied. You live and reign for ever and ever. Alleluia. Amen.