A reading from the Gospel according to John 14:7-14

7 Jesus said to his disciples: If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also: and from henceforth you shall know him, and you have seen him.
8 Philip said to him: Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us
9 Jesus saith to him: Have I been so long a time with you; and have you not known me? Philip, he that sees me sees the Father also. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Do you not believe, that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not of myself. But the Father who abides in me, he does the works.
11 Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
12 Otherwise believe for the very works’ sake. Amen, amen I say to you, he that believes in me, the works that I do, he also shall do; and greater than these shall he do.
13 Because I go to the Father: and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, that will I do: that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you shall ask me anything in my name, that I will do.

Today’s gospel reflection: John 14:7-14

In the gospel reading above, we find a profound message of hope and empowerment. Jesus speaks to His disciples with a reassuring calmness, explaining that to know Him is to know the Father. This reveals a powerful truth about the intimacy and accessibility we have with God through Jesus Christ. He assures us that He is not a distant deity, but a present and accessible God, known through His Son.

Jesus further emphasizes the power of faith in these verses. He assures His disciples that those who believe in Him will do the works He has been doing, and even greater works, because He is going to the Father. This is not just a promise of spiritual continuity but an invitation to actively participate in the divine work. It challenges us to step beyond the confines of our limitations and to engage in acts that reflect divine love and power.

This passage also underscores the power of prayer in Jesus’ name, promising that whatever we ask for in His name will be done. This isn’t a carte blanche for any request, but rather a call to align our desires with God’s will. When our prayers are in sync with His divine purpose, they become conduits for His miraculous works on earth.

Let this message inspire you to embrace a deeper relationship with God through Jesus. You are invited to know God intimately and to experience His presence through the life and teachings of His Son. You are empowered to continue Christ’s work on earth, carrying forward the torch of His love and compassion. And you are encouraged to harness the power of prayer, aligning your heart with God’s will and witnessing how it transforms your life and the lives of others around you.

The words of Jesus in this gospel narrative are not just theological statements but a call to a transformative, active faith — a faith that not only believes in the unseen but also acts upon it with the assurance of divine backing.