Show Us the Father
May 17, 2025 - Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
John 14:7–14
In the Old Testament, God could be heard—but not seen. In the New Testament, however, God has taken on a human face. This is the great turning point of salvation history. When Philip says, “Show us the Father,” Jesus answers with breathtaking clarity: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
The Letter to the Hebrews begins with this profound declaration: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1–2). The author continues, saying that the Son “is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3). The One who was once revealed through prophets, dreams, and commandments now stands before us in flesh and blood: Jesus of Nazareth.
We may not fully grasp how shocking this claim was—and still is. Jesus, who for many of his contemporaries appeared to be just another Galilean Jew, who died a shameful death on the cross like so many others, dares to say: “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” The one who walked the dusty roads of Galilee and Judea, who ate with tax collectors and sinners, who told parables and healed the sick—he is the visible image of the invisible God.
What does this mean for us?
To those who ask about God, we do not offer an abstract definition but point to the Gospel that narrates the life of Jesus. His words, gestures, and choices reveal a God who heals, who forgives, who welcomes, and who suffers with us and for us. For Catholics, Jesus remains truly present in the sacraments—especially the Eucharist. Many experience his nearness in Eucharistic adoration, where he remains with us: silent, humble, and fully present.
At the heart of Christianity is not a philosophy or moral code, but a person. To know Jesus and follow him is the deepest calling of our faith. The Apostle John puts it plainly in his first letter: “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). This commandment has shaped the Church's mission from the beginning. Imitating Christ’s compassion, Christians have reached out to the poor, the sick, and the forgotten. Hospitals, schools, and works of mercy have flourished wherever the Gospel has taken root.
Empowered by the Spirit of God, the Church has indeed been doing the “greater works” Jesus spoke of—spreading his saving presence to every land and generation. And the prayers offered in his name—that is, in union with his will, his heart, and his mission—have been heard. Not always answered in the way we expect, but always in the way that draws us deeper into the love of the Father revealed in the Son.