Homily for the Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

In today's Gospel, Philip asks Jesus, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." This request may resonate with many of us, as we often feel that our longing for fulfillment will only be satisfied when we see God in heaven. However, Jesus replies to Philip, saying that he already sees the Father in Him: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." 

Through this reply, Jesus reminds us that He has already begun to fulfill our deepest desire for God. Through his life, death, and Resurrection, Jesus reveals the face of God Himself. As we deepen our relationship with Jesus, we begin to see the face of God, and heaven begins to be a present reality in our lives. 

Jesus desires us to appreciate and experience God's presence through Him, who is always with us until the end of time. We encounter this presence in His words, the sacraments—especially the Eucharist—and our interactions with one another.