"Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied," says Phillip to Jesus. I give Phillip a lot of credit in this passage. He doesn't quite get it, but he isn't afraid to tell the Lord how he feels. He lays it out, like, "Lord, just show us! And if you show me, then I'll be satisfied and do everything you are asking. Just show me and it'll be great." The Lord's response is loving but, at the same time, very firm. "Have I been with you so long and yet you still do not know me, Phillip?" After all that the disciples have seen and heard during their journey with the Lord, they are still wanting Him to be more clear. They saw the miracles with their own eyes, and they heard Jesus preach about His Father firsthand. Yet, their eyes and hearts were still not open completely. What more does the Lord need to do to "show them the Father?" This hit me pretty hard. I imagined Jesus asking me the very same question. "Have I been with you so long and yet you still do not know me, Megan?" When things do not go my way or a prayer remains unanswered, I look to the Lord and wonder where He is in all of it. Where has He gone? Why won't He show the glory of the Father in my life?

He goes on to say that whatever we ask in His name, He will do. Which is a beautiful scripture to write on the front of your notebook or embroider on a pillow, but when you are sitting in the chapel begging the Lord to answer your prayer, and He seems silent, you may wonder how this scripture applies to you. I believe in you Lord-I ask this in Your Name-Yet, why am I still suffering? Why have you said no?

Let us go back to the first part of the Gospel. Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life." And in that lies the answers to all those questions that I had been wrestling with- all the hurts that are harboring in my heart. Do I know the heart of Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life? Do I believe that Jesus will do all the things He says that He will? He will answer all my prayers. When I go to Him, He will hear me. But because He is the way, the truth and the life, He knows the plan and the way so much better. His way is far better than a path I could conceive.

It doesn't take long for me to remember all the times that Jesus has shown up and shown me the Father. Moment after moment in my life, just as in the lives of the apostles, Jesus has shown me miracles. He has taught me about the kingdom.

But me and my buddy Phillip still ask for more. And that's okay. Jesus knew that we would. That's why He tells us to ask. He encourages us to come to Him. But we must believe in Him and do all things for the glory of God. And if we follow after Him, if we seek to know the Father, then we will be satisfied. ​

When things do not go your way or a prayer remains unanswered, how do you react? Do you look to the Lord and wonder where He is in all of it?

​How strongly do you believe that Jesus will do all the things He says that He will? That He will answer all your prayers and that, when you go to Him, He will hear you? Why?

How similar are you to Philip in this passage? Are you seeking the Father but need a little help along the way? In what ways do you need Christ's guidance today?

"You are the way."

"You are the truth."

​"You are my life."

​Take a trust fall into the arms of Jesus today. Don't actually fall back onto the Eucharist, but spiritually lay yourself out to Jesus. Ask all the questions on your heart and send up all of your requests. Be real and vulnerable with Jesus and trust that He hears and answers all your prayers according to His great plan for your life.