14 November 2026 · Syro-Malankara Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: Syro-Malabar Rite · Latin 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.” John 14:9
Paul asks to be regarded “as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries”, and the one thing required of stewards is that they be found trustworthy. He does not even judge himself; the Lord will judge, and he “will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.” Every priest, catechist and parent is such a steward: not owner, but servant.
Philip, the apostle we honour today, makes an honest request at the Last Supper: “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus answers with one of the most astonishing sentences of the Gospel: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” In the face of Jesus we see God. And he promises that whatever we ask in his name, he will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Theme: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
Faithful stewards who look on Christ.
“I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind.” 1 Samuel 2:35
“Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” 1 Corinthians 4:1–2
Apply: Pray for your parish priest by name.
“I the LORD test the mind and search the heart,” Jeremiah 17:10
“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.” 1 Corinthians 4:5
Apply: Leave one judgment to God today.
“Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.”” Exodus 33:18
“Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”” John 14:8
Apply: Spend five minutes before an icon of Christ.
We are stewards, not owners.
In Jesus' face we see the Father.
Take-home resolution: Look at Jesus in silent prayer each day this week.
Dear friends, Paul asks to be regarded as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries; and it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. He does not even judge himself; when the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and disclose the purposes of the heart (1 Corinthians 4:1–5).
Today is the memory of Mar Philipose Shleeha, St Philip the Apostle. At the Last Supper Philip says to Jesus: Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied. Jesus answers: 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 14:8–9).
The face of the Father is in Jesus. Like Philip we too are sometimes close to Jesus without truly knowing him. Today, at the Holy Qurbono and in prayer, let us look at the face of Jesus: there we see the Father. Amen.
Children, Philip said: show us God. Jesus said: whoever sees me sees the Father. When we look at Jesus, we see God!
Lord Jesus, in you we see the Father. Make us faithful stewards of your mysteries, and through the prayers of St Philip, satisfy our hearts with the sight of your face. Amen.
On the feast of St Philip the Apostle, Paul describes the apostles as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries, judged by the Lord alone. In the Gospel Philip says, “Lord, show us the Father,” and Jesus answers, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” The steward's whole task is to show Christ, and in Christ the Father.
Setting.
The Corinthians compared their teachers, Paul, Apollos and Cephas, and took sides (1:12; 3:4–5). Paul ends this section by telling them how to think of their ministers: not as heads of parties, but as servants and stewards who must answer to the Lord.
Structure.
Key words.
Verse by verse.
“Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” (4:1)
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” (4:2)
“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.” (4:5)
Only God sees the heart. This frees ministers both from pride and from the fear of human opinion.
How the Church reads it.
The Church applies this text above all to bishops and priests, who administer the sacraments, the mysteries of God, and must be found faithful. Every baptized person is also a steward, called to use each gift received “like good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
Setting.
The scene is the Last Supper, in Jesus' farewell discourse (John 13–17). Jesus has just said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (14:6). Thomas asked about the way; now Philip asks to see the Father.
Philip came from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter (1:44). In John he brings Nathanael to Jesus (1:45), is tested by Jesus before the feeding of the five thousand (6:5–7), and brings the Greeks who wish to see Jesus (12:21–22). He is a practical and honest man.
Structure.
Key words.
Verse by verse.
“Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” (14:8)
Philip asks for the one thing that would satisfy the human heart. Jesus tells him he has had it all along.
“Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (14:9)
A gentle reproach, by name. Jesus is not a messenger pointing beyond himself; he is the image of the Father.
“I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (14:13)
How the Church reads it.
The Catechism teaches that Christ's whole life is a revelation of the Father, and cites this verse (CCC 516). The Fathers used John 14:9–10 to show that the Son is one in being with the Father, as the Council of Nicaea confessed (in substance). Prayer in the name of Jesus is the heart of Christian prayer (CCC 2614, 2664–2666).
St Philip the Apostle is remembered today in the Syro-Malankara calendar; the Latin Church keeps his feast with St James on 3 May. An early tradition, recorded by Eusebius, says that Philip was buried at Hierapolis in Asia Minor. His request is the prayer of every seeker, and Jesus' answer is fulfilled at every Holy Qurbono: in the Son we see the Father.