50. By means of this image the Lord showed
Philip the Father, saying, “Philip, he that sees Me, sees the
Father also. How then dost thou say, Show us the Father?
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in
Me?” S. John xiv. 9–10. Yes, he
who looks upon the Son sees, in portrait, the Father. Or “He who
beholds the Father in the Son, beholds Him in a portrait.” Mark what manner of portrait is
spoken of. It is Truth, Righteousness, the Power of God: Christ the
Truth: S. John xiv. 6.
Righteousness: Jer. xxxiii. 16; xxiii. 6; 1 Cor. i.
30. Power of
God: 1 Cor.
i. 24. not dumb, for it is the Word; not
insensible, for it is Wisdom; not vain and foolish, for it is Power;
not soulless, for it is the Life; not dead, for it is the
Resurrection. Christ the
Word: S. John i. 1–18. Wisdom:
1 Cor. i. 24, 30. Life and
Resurrection: S. John xi. 25.
You see, then, that whilst an image
is spoken of, the meaning is that it is the Father, Whose image the Son
is, seeing that no one can be his own image.