“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV)

These words of St. Paul in his letter to the Hebrews set forth a significant truth.  Jesus is the exact representation of God.  Do you want to get to know God, get to know Jesus.  It may be hard for us to picture God and get our heads around who he is.  God may have appreciated this difficulty, so he decided to become one of us in the person of Jesus 2100 years ago.  We have just come off celebrating that event with Christmas. 

In John’s Gospel, Phillip, who had been with Jesus for almost three years as one of his disciples says, “Lord show us the Father and that will be enough for us. Jesus answered, ‘Don’t you know me Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time.  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.’” Jesus seems to be frustrated with Phillip.  He says, “How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’  Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me?” (John 14:8-10)

Jesus’ words to Phillip also apply to us.  If we have come to know Jesus, we have come to know the Father.  While the Church teaches that we receive the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit in our baptism, it may take an adult yes to activate that presence as we mature.  Later in John’s Gospel, Jesus says that if we love him and obey his teaching (an adult yes), he and the Father will come and make their home in us – an amazing promise! (John 14:23)

Have you opened the door of your life to Jesus so that he and the Father may take up residence?