A few extraneous reflections on Sunday

I don't know about where you live, but here in Northern Utah, we've been enjoying a relatively cool if quite dry Spring. Today, however, the temperatures have reached the mid-80s, which is not unusual for this time of year but quite a bit warmer than it's been so far this year. I had to chuckle as I thought in a month or so mid-80s, which felt downright hot on my afternoon walk, will feel relatively cool.

As I was reading the Gospel at the early Mass this morning, I was suddenly very struck by John 14:8. It is the verse in which Philip says to Jesus, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." It's like asking, "Show us the ineffable." Or, stated another way, "Eff for us the ineffable." To extend this more: Show us the unshowable; Describe for us the indescriable; Here, put the infinite in this bucket, etc.

As I pondered Philip's request between Masses, I thought it was almost laugh-out-loud funny. But considering the matter more seriously later, it became clearer to me. At least for Christians, it is a given that Jesus is the "refulgence" of God the Father. "Refulgence" is how the New American Bible translates the Greek noun ἀπαύγασμα, which transliterates into English as apaugasma. This is the word used in Hebrews 1:3 in describing the relationship of the Son of God to God.

Any New Testament concordance will tell you that in the first instance, apaugasma means "reflected brightness." Therefore, Jesus Christ perfectly reflects the image, the majesty, splendor of God. In Jesus, as Scripture tells us elsewhere, "all the fullness was pleased to dwell." (Col 1:19). It seems that these are ways of theologically articulating what Jesus tells Philip, namely, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Saint Philip, by Peter Paul Rubens, ca. 1611

Upon further reflection, it seems to me that Philip's seemingly funny and, perhaps at first glance, even absurd request is from the bottom of his heart. His request articulates not only his deepest desire but mine too. Perhaps it is this desire is what constitutes our humanity at its core. Our desire is ineffable and it can only be satisfied by the ineffable. Keep in mind, Jesus is the way and the gate to the transcendent. It has been noted that Jesus is the immanent transcendent- the (im)possible existent.

As I was preparing things for Sunday Mass last Friday afternoon, I was also very struck by the beauty of the Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter. I think it is expressive of much the same desire as Philip's:

Almighty ever-living God,
constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us,
that those you were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism
may, under your protective care, bear much fruit
and come to the joys of life eternal.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Peace of Christ to you this Sunday evening. Stay safe, place your hope in Christ through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Be kind and loving to everyone. We're all living through a difficult time.