The Memorial of Saint Athanasius
The next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, "It was necessary that God's word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from yourselves, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, 'I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, That you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.'"
As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. The Lord's word was spread abroad throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Sing to the Lord a new song, For he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made known his salvation. He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works' sake. Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father. Whatever you will ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.
Saint Athanasius, the fourth-century bishop who fearlessly defended the divinity of Christ against the Arian heresy, understood something crucial about seeing God clearly. His unwavering conviction that Jesus was truly God and truly man cost him multiple exiles, yet he persisted because he knew that our salvation depended on this truth.
Philip's request in the Gospel captures our deepest longing: "Show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Notice the gentle exasperation in Jesus's response - after all this time together, Philip still doesn't grasp that the Father is right there before him. The divine isn't hidden in some distant realm; it dwells among us, speaks through ordinary words, works through human hands.
This same dynamic plays out in Acts when Paul and Barnabas pivot from the synagogue to the Gentiles. What appears to be rejection becomes revelation - God's light spreads to unexpected places, reaching people who weren't even looking for it. The disciples respond not with discouragement but with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Consider how often we mirror Philip's request in our own lives. We ask God to show up more dramatically, to make divine presence more obvious, while missing the ways grace already moves through our daily encounters. The colleague who listens without judgment, the stranger who offers unexpected kindness, the moment of peace that settles over us during a difficult conversation - these become windows into the Father's heart.
The promise Jesus makes is startling: those who believe will do even greater works. This isn't about performing miracles but about becoming conduits of divine love in a world hungry for authentic connection.
Where might we be overlooking God's presence in our ordinary Wednesday routines? What would it mean to truly believe that others can encounter the Father through our words and actions?