“Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
When I read this story, I’m often impressed that Jesus is able to give this whole long speech in response to Philip’s statement. I imagine myself in that position and the two responses that come to mind do not involve words, let alone an impassioned speech. My first response would likely be...nothing. Eyes blinking, mouth agape and then shut again - just...no words. And the alternative? A strangled cry of frustration, and perhaps weeping.
Philip. Hi. I see here that you’ve not missed any class. We’ve been over this! A lot! How did you miss this very important point?!
Of course, Jesus is a little nicer: “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
It’s not like this conversation was at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, where it would be quite understandable for Philip to make this request. But no, it’s part of Jesus’ Farewell Discourse in the Gospel of John, and comes during their last meal together before Jesus is arrested and crucified. They’ve been together for three years, teaching and listening, healing and eating together. And yet, Philip says, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
It’s part of human nature to fall back into feelings of fear and scarcity. We never have enough, we always need more. And I think this is true not just for things like money or stuff or notoriety. It’s also scarcity about what and how much we need to feel prepared.
If I could just study a little longer, I’d ace the test. If I could keep the training wheels on for a few more days, things would be great. If I could just watch you do it one more time, then I’d be okay. If I could wait until I really feel ready. If you could just do this, then I’ll be satisfied. Does this sound familiar to anyone else?
I wonder if you can think of a time you didn’t feel prepared or “ready” for something you had to do, but did it anyway.
The first that came to mind for me is welcoming and raising a child. You can read all the books and get all the advice and still there’s a feeling of anxiety or helplessness. I’m very comfortable around babies, and spent much of my teenage years babysitting, and still on the first night we brought Wade home, I remember feeling so afraid – “I can’t believe they let us bring him home. What were they thinking?!” And it never really goes away. In big and small ways you realize that you can’t always protect them, that you won’t always have the right answers, that so much is out of your control.
Starting a new job also feels like this. You have so much to learn and no idea where to start. There are unspoken rules or office culture that isn’t immediately clear. It can be unnerving to have others depending on you when you’re not yet sure of yourself.
What else came to mind for you? Perhaps the beginning of the school year? Your first game or recital after only a few practices or rehearsals? The treacherous and difficult landscape of grief?
In all of these cases, we are reminded that we have what we need – unbounded love; a capacity to observe and sometimes go through the motions until we really get it; perseverance; a willingness to learn from our mistakes; the support and help of others.
The disciples likely did not feel prepared when Jesus ascended into heaven and left them to do the ministry they were called to do – preaching, healing, sharing the good news. But Jesus promised an Advocate, a helper, the Holy Spirit who would be with them in the midst of feelings of scarcity and fear. This Spirit would go with them, would pray for them when they had no words, would fill them with the holy fire of love.
The same is true for us. In response to our reluctance, the Holy Spirit may gently nudge us, or we may feel thrown, limbs flailing, into a situation that seems too hard, too scary, too much. But in the face of fear and scarcity, God reminds us again and again that we have everything we need.
We have a God revealed to us in the person of Jesus, in the breath of the Spirit, in the bread and wine we share, in the water that cleanses and renews us, in the word we read and hear, and in the faces of our neighbors.
We have everything we need.
We have a God who loves us deeply and completely and shows us how to love one another.
We have a God who always speaks peace into situations of fear.
We have a God who comforts and sustains us in the midst of uncertainty.
We have a God who has given us everything we need.
It’s hard to trust this, sometimes. We don’t feel prepared to talk about our faith, or make difficult decisions, or stand up for what’s right. It feels risky, scary, impossible. For us - but not for God.
We are not alone. God is always with us.
And, God has given us each other.
It is impossible to be prepared for any and every scenario. Not one of us is smart enough or strong enough or capable enough to move through life entirely on our own. We need each other, and the diversity of gifts and strengths and abilities we have. We are stronger together than we are apart.
Pentecost is often called the “birthday of the Church.” Gathered together in one place, the Holy Spirit descended in wind and fire and noise on the diverse, imperfect, eager, sinful, not-quite-ready-for-Jesus-to-be-gone believers. Gathered into one place, filled with the Spirit, they became the Church. Each was sent out to be the hands and feet of God, and to tell everyone about God’s deeds of power.
That same Spirit is given to each of us in baptism, as we are joined to the Church, the Body of Christ. Even when we don’t feel prepared or ready, that same Spirit strengthens and equips us to love and serve one another, and sends us out to share the good news.
This is the good news of Pentecost - that the God who created us never leaves us. That we have everything we need to love and serve and share.
When I read this story, I’m often impressed that Jesus is able to give this whole long speech in response to Philip’s statement. I imagine myself in that position and the two responses that come to mind do not involve words, let alone an impassioned speech. My first response would likely be...nothing. Eyes blinking, mouth agape and then shut again - just...no words. And the alternative? A strangled cry of frustration, and perhaps weeping.
Philip. Hi. I see here that you’ve not missed any class. We’ve been over this! A lot! How did you miss this very important point?!
Of course, Jesus is a little nicer: “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
It’s not like this conversation was at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, where it would be quite understandable for Philip to make this request. But no, it’s part of Jesus’ Farewell Discourse in the Gospel of John, and comes during their last meal together before Jesus is arrested and crucified. They’ve been together for three years, teaching and listening, healing and eating together. And yet, Philip says, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
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| Actual photo of the Holy Spirit kicking you out into the world even though you don't feel ready. Photo by Bruce Jastrow on Unsplash |
It’s part of human nature to fall back into feelings of fear and scarcity. We never have enough, we always need more. And I think this is true not just for things like money or stuff or notoriety. It’s also scarcity about what and how much we need to feel prepared.
If I could just study a little longer, I’d ace the test. If I could keep the training wheels on for a few more days, things would be great. If I could just watch you do it one more time, then I’d be okay. If I could wait until I really feel ready. If you could just do this, then I’ll be satisfied. Does this sound familiar to anyone else?
I wonder if you can think of a time you didn’t feel prepared or “ready” for something you had to do, but did it anyway.
The first that came to mind for me is welcoming and raising a child. You can read all the books and get all the advice and still there’s a feeling of anxiety or helplessness. I’m very comfortable around babies, and spent much of my teenage years babysitting, and still on the first night we brought Wade home, I remember feeling so afraid – “I can’t believe they let us bring him home. What were they thinking?!” And it never really goes away. In big and small ways you realize that you can’t always protect them, that you won’t always have the right answers, that so much is out of your control.
Starting a new job also feels like this. You have so much to learn and no idea where to start. There are unspoken rules or office culture that isn’t immediately clear. It can be unnerving to have others depending on you when you’re not yet sure of yourself.
What else came to mind for you? Perhaps the beginning of the school year? Your first game or recital after only a few practices or rehearsals? The treacherous and difficult landscape of grief?
In all of these cases, we are reminded that we have what we need – unbounded love; a capacity to observe and sometimes go through the motions until we really get it; perseverance; a willingness to learn from our mistakes; the support and help of others.
The disciples likely did not feel prepared when Jesus ascended into heaven and left them to do the ministry they were called to do – preaching, healing, sharing the good news. But Jesus promised an Advocate, a helper, the Holy Spirit who would be with them in the midst of feelings of scarcity and fear. This Spirit would go with them, would pray for them when they had no words, would fill them with the holy fire of love.
The same is true for us. In response to our reluctance, the Holy Spirit may gently nudge us, or we may feel thrown, limbs flailing, into a situation that seems too hard, too scary, too much. But in the face of fear and scarcity, God reminds us again and again that we have everything we need.
We have a God revealed to us in the person of Jesus, in the breath of the Spirit, in the bread and wine we share, in the water that cleanses and renews us, in the word we read and hear, and in the faces of our neighbors.
We have everything we need.
We have a God who loves us deeply and completely and shows us how to love one another.
We have a God who always speaks peace into situations of fear.
We have a God who comforts and sustains us in the midst of uncertainty.
We have a God who has given us everything we need.
It’s hard to trust this, sometimes. We don’t feel prepared to talk about our faith, or make difficult decisions, or stand up for what’s right. It feels risky, scary, impossible. For us - but not for God.
We are not alone. God is always with us.
And, God has given us each other.
It is impossible to be prepared for any and every scenario. Not one of us is smart enough or strong enough or capable enough to move through life entirely on our own. We need each other, and the diversity of gifts and strengths and abilities we have. We are stronger together than we are apart.
Pentecost is often called the “birthday of the Church.” Gathered together in one place, the Holy Spirit descended in wind and fire and noise on the diverse, imperfect, eager, sinful, not-quite-ready-for-Jesus-to-be-gone believers. Gathered into one place, filled with the Spirit, they became the Church. Each was sent out to be the hands and feet of God, and to tell everyone about God’s deeds of power.
That same Spirit is given to each of us in baptism, as we are joined to the Church, the Body of Christ. Even when we don’t feel prepared or ready, that same Spirit strengthens and equips us to love and serve one another, and sends us out to share the good news.
This is the good news of Pentecost - that the God who created us never leaves us. That we have everything we need to love and serve and share.
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