Sometimes one comes across an atheist who makes the claim that they would believe in God if he showed himself to them. Well, Philip makes a similar request in the Gospel. He says, “Master, show us the Father; and that will be enough for us”
Jesus answers with a very gentle rebuke, he says, that’s why
I’ve come, that’s what I’ve been doing, that who I am, I show you the Father
because the Father and I are one. Everything Jesus does for us is for this
purpose: to show us the Father, to reconcile us with the Father, to lead us to
the Father, that we may be with him and his Father in paradise forever.
So, in a very real sense, God has answered the atheist’s request.
God appear to me and I’ll believe in you. Show me that you are real. Jesus is
the answer to that request. He has appeared in history, and has accomplished
the great work of our redemption.
So the atheist might reply, God, appear to me now. St. Paul
would no doubt tell the atheist that if he wants to see God at work, now, he
has only but to look as far as the Church. If the atheist actually took a
moment to look, he would see Jesus in the Church, he would see God in the Church.
He would see the evidence of God in the good works being accomplished by the
Church, he would see the evidence in the unity that God has brought to the disparate
people of the world, he would see the evidence in the patience and joy and
understanding he gives to ordinary people like you and me.
He would see evidence particularly in the courage and
amazing goodness in the lives of the martyrs and saints, like Philip and James
who we honor today.
The Gospel writer doesn’t tell us if Philip immediately
grasped the Lord’s teaching in the Gospel today, but we know that after the
resurrection Philip dedicated the rest of his life entirely to Christ. It is
said that Phillip was first to bring the Gospel to Greece and then to Frisia,
the area along the North Sea from the Netherlands to Denmark. It is there that he was martyred for the
faith.
Legend states that James, son of alphaeus, brought the
gospel to Persia, where he was martyred as well.
There is enough light and goodness in the Church for any man
to see the presence of God if he but really looks. May we assist those without
faith see the evidence of God through the integrity of our lives, for the glory
of God and salvation of souls.
May we join the Holy Apostles in our prayer for the world
and the Church.
As the Apostles witnessed to the Resurrection of the Lord,
may we be his witnesses to the farthest corners of the world.
For the bishops, the successors of the apostles: That they
may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church
from error.
For all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of
natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported
by God’s healing love. We pray to the Lord.
For all who long to see the face of the Father, for all our
departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this
Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord,
and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through
Christ our Lord
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