Dives in Misericordia: “He Who Sees Me Sees the Father” (1)

On 30 November 1980, the First Sunday of Advent, Blessed Pope John Paul II issued his encyclical, “Dives in Misericordia” (“Rich in Mercy”). Unfortunately, as has  been the case of other encyclicals, (too) many people have not taken the time to read the document all the way through (let alone reflect on it). Over the next few weeks, we will be offering the document, one portion at a time. Time reading and reflecting on these words, the words of the Holy Spirit speaking through Pope John Paul, would be well spent indeed.

Chapter I of “Dives in Misericordia” is entitled “He Who Sees Me Sees the Father (cf. John 14:9).” It begins as follows:

“1. The Revelation of Mercy

It is ‘God, who is rich in mercy’ ¹ whom Jesus Christ has revealed to us as Father: it is His very Son who, in Himself, has manifested Him and made Him known to us.² Memorable in this regard is the moment when Philip, one of the twelve Apostles, turned to Christ and said: ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied’; and Jesus replied: ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me...? He who has seen me has seen the Father.’³ These words were spoken during the farewell discourse at the end of the paschal supper, which was followed by the events of those holy days during which confirmation was to be given once and for all of the fact that ‘God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.’⁴”

[1] Ephesians 2:4.

[2] Cf. John 1:18; Hebrews 1:1f.

[3] John 14:8-9.

[4] Ephesians 2:4-5.

 

To access the complete document, please visit:

Pope John Paul II: “Dives in Misericordia”