Saint Athanasius, Bishop, Doctor (Memorial)
First Reading — Acts 13:44–52
Since you have rejected the word of God, we must turn to the pagans
The next sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly.
‘We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said:
I have made you a light for the nations,
so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.’
It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside.
But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 97(98):1–4
Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
for the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
ring out your joy.
Gospel — John 14:7–14
To have seen me is to have seen the Father
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If you know me, you know my Father too.
From this moment you know him and have seen him.’
Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.’
‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip,’ said Jesus to him, ‘and you still do not know me?
To have seen me is to have seen the Father,
so how can you say, “Let us see the Father”?
Do you not believe
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself:
it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work.
You must believe me when I say
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me;
believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.
I tell you most solemnly,
whoever believes in me
will perform the same works as I do myself,
he will perform even greater works,
because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask for in my name I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask for anything in my name,
I will do it.’
Reflection
Rejection in Acts is not subtle. It is active, deliberate, and at times hostile. The word is spoken, but it is not welcomed. This reveals something essential: truth does not impose itself. It can be heard clearly and still be refused. Freedom remains intact (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 160).
Paul’s response is instructive. He does not dilute the message or reshape it to gain acceptance. He moves forward. The mission is not built on reception—it is grounded in obedience. When one place closes, another opens. The word continues because it does not belong to those who accept or reject it; it belongs to God (CCC 849).
The Gospel exposes a more subtle form of resistance. Philip is not rejecting Christ—he is standing with Him, listening, following. And yet, he asks for more: “Show us the Father.” It is a request for clarity, but also a sign of distance. He is present, but not fully recognising.
Jesus’ response is direct: “To have seen me is to have seen the Father.” Nothing is lacking. The issue is not absence, but perception.
This is where the interior work becomes unavoidable.
We often believe that what we need is more information, more clarity, more certainty. But the deeper reality is that we already see enough to respond. The truth has been presented. The invitation is clear. What remains is not discovery—but decision.
Saint Athanasius understood this at cost. He did not hold to truth because it was widely accepted, but because it was true. Even when it isolated him, even when it disrupted his life, he remained. This reflects a faith that is not shaped by approval, but by conviction grounded in Christ (CCC 155).
So the tension remains.
Not whether God has spoken—but whether we are willing to respond without delay.
One line to carry today:
What you already see is enough—now decide how you will respond.
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