“For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures . . .”
                                      I Corinthians 15:3-4

“The heavens declare the glory of God;
the sky proclaims the builder’s craft.
One day to the next conveys that message;
One night to the next imparts that knowledge.”
                                     Psalm 19:2-3

“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
                                     John 15:9

My wife told me at breakfast:  “Remember that the fourth-grade program is tonight.”  So when I came home from work that very same day, I was surprised to learn that I had to get ready to go to the fourth-grade program.

Sometimes I just don’t pay attention.

But I’m in good company.  Philip, whose feast day we celebrate today, stood there and heard Jesus say, “If you know me then you will also know my Father.  From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

To which Philip responds:
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

Even Saint Philip was distracted and thick-headed at times.  That means there is hope for me.

Psalm 19 is a beautiful invitation to pay attention.  It says, in effect, “Look around you!  God’s glory is as plain as day!”

Plain as day are the truths in today’s readings:  The Lord God, creator of the universe, came to live among us, suffered and died for us, and was raised from the dead after three days.  Jesus reveals God to us.  Through our faith, death holds no power over us.

These astounding truths ought to be plain as day to me all the time, yet often my little insecurities, fears and desires seem to hold more power.  That is why I need patient daily prayer:  To stop, be quiet and pay laser-like attention to God.