Certain spiritualities tend towards associating the so-called God of the Old Testament with God the Father—a God who often depicted as wrathful and punishing. And, in contrast, we have Christ as revealed in the gospels—one who is merciful and forgiving and who, as it were, stays the vengeful hand of God the Father. However, in today’s gospel Jesus clearly contradicts this kind of spirituality; and says quite plainly to Philip: Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. There is thus no discrepancy between the image of God revealed in the life and teaching Christ and that of the Father. All the forgiving love, compassion, mercy, and forbearance of Christ are nothing less and nothing more than the fullest expression and overflow of the same forgiving love, compassion, mercy, and forbearance flowing from the Father as he pours himself out in love in the Son through the Holy Spirit. The God we will encounter when we pass from this world is thus the God revealed in the face of Christ. And, therefore, those who love and serve Christ need have no fear in appearing before the Father—a Father who will lovingly embrace his returning prodigal sons and daughters.