If you know me, you know my Father tooˇK

We may identify quite easily with Philip's perplexity in the gospel today. This is especially because Jesus the Lord is no longer among us in the same way that He was with the first disciples. How then are we to know Him, let alone the Father? How are we to see and recognize His face? Yet, we don't always actually have to see something to know of its existence, do we? For example, although we do not see the wind, we know that it is blowing when we witness its effects: when we feel our hair being ruffled, when we see the branches swaying and hear them rustling. In like manner, although Jesus is not physically present in the first reading, we can discern the effects of His Spirit's power. We notice how, even when faced with the jealousy and slander of the Jews, Paul and Barnabas continue to speak out boldly. And we notice the fruit of their courageous proclamation: It made the pagans very happyˇK and they thanked the LordˇK the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. These are among the effects of the Lord's presence, the results of the Spirit's power. To learn to discern and to respond to them is also to perform the same works that Jesus did so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.