Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

John 14:7-14

Jesus said to his disciples: “If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? 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 speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

Opening Prayer: Lord, I desire that you open my eyes to see as you see, my mind to think as you think, and my heart to love as you love. I approach you today, Lord, as I would a dear friend. May this time of prayer lead to a more profound relationship with you.

Encountering Christ:

1. To Know the Father: Philip wanted to see the Father and asked Jesus to show him the Father. The petition came, most certainly, after having heard Jesus speak so frequently and so highly of his Father. It is hard to grasp what we don’t see. Jesus’ answer was probably surprising to Philip: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” The answer Jesus gave may not have satisfied Philip’s curiosity, but invited him to believe, to lean on his experience of the Lord and to trust that Jesus is the revelation of the Father, even if Philip didn’t understand it.

    

2. Confidence: “If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.” Our Lord made this promise, yet how many times have we heard someone say that God did not answer their prayers? Jesus stipulated that we ask in his name, implying that we know his mind and heart. Getting to know the mind and heart of Jesus, so that we can align our prayer with his will, is a process that takes place over time; it is the fruit of daily mental prayer—time spent seeking intimacy with Our Lord.

    

3. Spending Time With the Lord in Prayer: Intentionality is the key that opens the door to a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus. The devil knows how to distract us with a thousand other things that will take our mind away from a few quiet moments with the Lord. Let’s decide, as often as is necessary, to spend time with Jesus in prayer.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, fill my heart with your light. Through getting to know you, may I get to know myself and see more clearly what is in my heart—what should stay and what should go. Give me the grace of this deep and intimate relationship with you.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take a moment to evaluate my relationship with you to see if we have enough time together and to see if you are inviting me to make any adjustments to my spiritual itinerary.

Renee Pomarico, CRC, is Communications Director for the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi. She is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been consecrated to God since 2000, and is currently stationed in Rome.