May 2, 2026 // Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: John 14:7-14
Reflect on the Word //
I’ve noticed how often my prayers sound like Philip’s. Just show me. Show me what you're doing. Show me that you're really here. Show me something unmistakable so I don’t have to keep wondering. I find myself asking this in the middle of ordinary days, halfway through a prayer, mid-thought, mid-doubt, simply longing for something concrete to hold on to.
There have been moments when faith felt like squinting in the dark, trusting God’s presence without feeling His closeness.
I didn’t stop believing; I just wanted reassurance. Something tangible. Something more.
In today’s Gospel, Philip voices that same desire: “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us” (John 14:8). And Jesus responds—not with anger, but with a kind of gentle ache: “Have I been with you for so long [. . .] and you still do not know me?” (John 14:9) Jesus isn’t withholding revelation; He is the revelation. To look at Him is to see the Father’s heart—His mercy, His patience, His compassion in flesh and blood. God is not a hidden mystery; He has made himself visible in Christ.
What strikes me is that Philip wasn’t rejecting Jesus; he simply wanted clarity. And Jesus meets that longing by redirecting it. It’s almost as if He’s saying, “Don’t look elsewhere. Don’t wait for something bigger or more dramatic. Look at Me. Listen to My words. Notice My work.”
Faith isn’t about chasing extraordinary signs—it’s about trusting that God has already come near.
Jesus then goes even further, extending an invitation: Those who believe will share in His work (see John 14:12). Knowing the Father doesn’t end in understanding; it flows into action, prayer, and participation in God’s life.
We often ask God to show Himself more clearly. May we learn to see Him in Jesus—in His words, His works, and His love made visible in Scripture and in the Eucharist. And trusting that He is already with us living within our hearts, may we live and pray with confidence, believing that God is nearer than we think.
Relate to the Lord // Turn to Jesus in Scripture today. Reread today’s Gospel (John 14:7-14) and let Jesus reveal Himself to you personally there.
Mary Peach lives in Atlanta and is passionate about helping others encounter Jesus in a real and personal way. Born in Ethiopia and adopted at age eleven, she shares vulnerably about faith, healing, and redemption through every season of life. Through her work in ministry and her writing, she hopes others feel less alone in their stories and more deeply known by God. In her free time, she enjoys photography, travel, pickleball, and spending time with friends and family.
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