Daily Gospel Reflection for May 18, 2019

Today's Gospel: John 14:7-14 Today is my wife’s birthday. When I do my self-introductions at parent meetings or other parish functions, I often talk about how my Jewish wife is a better person than me and that she made me want to be a better person than I was. The only way I knew how to do that was to become a better Catholic. Today’s Gospel gives me a similar glimpse of that insight. Jesus is explaining to Philip not just the principle that we are made in the image and likeness of God, but that Jesus’ connection to the Father is so intimate that the Incarnation is the Word of God made Flesh. “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” This conversation occurs at the Last Supper. Jesus, with a bit of urgency, points out the puzzlement that after all these years, how is it that Jesus’ followers do not know him? How is it that they would even ask, “Show us the Father?” My wife has changed my life in so many profound ways. This is something that has happened over many years. But it is also with great gratitude that I think of her and her People to whom God first chose to make himself known. And in gratitude to the Incarnation, through whom the Church’s mission brought my people into relationship with the same God. I do not know how else this might have come to pass, but I am grateful for how it did.

Ponder:

Who, in your life, has shown you the way to God? Thank them.

Pray:

Let us pray also for the Jewish people, to whom the Lord our God spoke first, that he may grant them to advance in love of His name and in faithfulness to His covenant.