Luke paints a bleak picture of the reception of Paul's preaching by the Jews. Since they have resisted and rejected his words, he insisted that he is turning to the Gentiles, who will be more open. This is part of Luke's theology, and we know that things were not so 'black and white.' We also know that God has never turned away from or rejected the Jewish people. If Paul or Jesus were preaching today, many Christians would resist their words, for they are always challenging. Let us always listen with the heart.

When Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus shocked them by insisting that if they had seen him, then they had seen the Father. Of course, he did not mean physical appearance - God has none, for God is Spirit. We learn in the First Letter of John that God is love and God is light - in God there is not darkness, hatred, or violence. In that sense, to see Jesus is to see the Father, for he has the qualities of God in human form. He reflects the holiness, kindness, mercy, love, wisdom, and forgiveness of the one who sent him - the Father. And as followers of Jesus, we are called to reflect at least some of those qualities. When people encounter us, they should have some sense of the loving kindness of God.