May 18, 2019

Jn 14: 7-14

If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 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’? 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; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Called from darkness into light

Five weeks ago, the world watched helplessly as Notre Dame Cathedral burned.  This beautiful, sacred structure is beloved by the French, Catholics, and the world.  Art historian Kenneth Clark produced the landmark television series Civilization.  In the first installment, standing before Notre Dame Cathedral, he said he could not put into words what “civilization” means; he then pointed to Notre Dame Cathedral and said, “But I think I can recognize it when I see it.”   

Yet it is not the structure itself that is sacred; sacredness comes from people’s hearts.  Notre Dame represents the faith in people’s hearts of a loving God. We don’t know what will happen to this marvelous Cathedral over time, but we do know God’s light will continue to shine from faith-filled hearts.  Out of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus came eternal joy. Out of darkness and hopelessness comes new life.

The first line of a famous prayer by Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, is, “Grant me, O Lord, to see everything now with new eyes, to discern and test the spirits that help me read the signs of the times, to relish the things that are yours, and to communicate them to others.” This is the Easter promise of Jesus’s life: “eternal joy.”  Lord, help us to see all with new eyes, with Your eyes.

—Greg Richard has served at St. John’s Jesuit High School in Toledo, OH for thirty-three years.  He has been the director of Campus Ministry, Theology teacher, Theology department chair, coach, and Adult Chaplain.  He is now the Vice President for Ignatian Identity.

Prayer

“You are a people God claims as his own, to praise him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, alleluia.” (1 Peter 2:9, from the Entrance Antiphon of today’s Mass)

“By the suffering, death, and resurrection of your Son may we come to eternal joy.” (from the Opening Prayer at today’s Mass)

—Prayers from today’s Mass