Philip said to him,
"Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
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."
Saint Philip is understandably confused by what he hears the Lord saying about himself and his Father. Two centuries later the word trinity would appear in the discussion, and, in the fourth century, be declared the best description of God which humans might ever devise. But, the definition is more proscriptive than descriptive; it helps us dismiss wrong explanations and leaves us to face the beauty and mystery of Truth without explanation.
We know the Father by Jesus's eager, unflinching obedience to the Spirit which guides him at every moment of his life. We know Jesus through the scriptures and tradition of the Church, and insofar as we are led by his spirit in all our affairs. That Spirit not only speaks of him frequently; it can hardly stop speaking of him when it meets a hostile authority. Indeed, as Saint Luke says of Peter and John,
"...they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name." (Acts 5:41)
Many Catholics are good at reciting a catechism definition of the Trinity, but we often fail to pause and consider its challenges. It is remarkably different from a monotheistic god as described by Jews, Muslims, and deists.
But the difference is its demand that we allow ourselves to be guided, formed, and informed by the Spirit which is joyful, generous, and courageous while, at the same time, atoning for sins and fearing the Lord. We must be devout before our God and express that devotion through the deepest respect for life. That reverence includes even the willingness to honor the human dignity of the oppressed and their oppressors.
Long before Philip and his brothers could speak of the Trinity, they followed the Lord to Calvary, for they understood perfectly what he had told them about Good the Father of all.
We see the Father when we see the Lord crucified, when we see where this is going, and when we follow.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.