In Sacred Scripture and in our personal experiences, there are countless ways in which the face of the Father is revealed to us.
The Apostle Thomas asks Jesus what is the way to reach Him. When we accept the person of Christ and His teachings, we have accepted the Way. Jesus is the Way to the Father.
Jesus says “in my Father’s house there are many dwelling places,” but this house of the Father is not a place to which the Lord will take us after our death, nor is it a distant place. This house is not Paradise, but rather the Christian Community. In His Community, Jesus has prepared a place for everyone who chooses to follow His “way.”
The community is the place where He dwells today: the house of His Father. Jesus promises to bring us into His community so that we may be with Him, right where He is. The house has many dwelling places, a reference to the numerous services and tasks that must be carried out within it. These “many dwelling places” are none other than the “diverse ministries” within the Christian Community and the many gifts received from God.
Throughout their lives, many people ask for the very same thing that Philip asked for: “Show us the Father.” Given that God is, in Himself, invisible and unobservable, it is not surprising to hear similar questions: “What is God like?” The truth of the matter is that, for us Christians, this question has already been answered: God is like Jesus. To know the person and teachings of Jesus is to know God.
On the other hand, when we Christians act in the manner of Christ, we also reveal the face of the Father in various ways. For example: the friend who stands by our side in moments of distress; the person who keeps watch at our bedside during times of illness; and the one who forgives us—rather than condemning us—when we make a serious mistake. All these people reveal to us the merciful face of the Father.
In Sacred Scripture and in our personal experiences, there are countless ways in which the face of the Father is revealed to us. I invite you, during this week, to set aside a little time to reflect and meditate on the personal experiences you have had in your life—moments in which God has revealed His face to you and your family.
May the Lord always give you his peace.
Fr. Lalo Jara, OFM
Pastor, Mission San Luis Rey Parish
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