John 14:1–12
Jesus said: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.”
Commentary
Today’s gospel is part of the long recount of the event at the last supper by St. John the Evangelist beginning at chapter 13 verse 31 to the end of chapter 17. Such a recount is traditionally read on the fifth and sixth Sundays of Easter time because the teaching of Jesus here is so deep and is related to each and every Christian who professes that Jesus is the Lord. Jesus is not only talking about things in the Heaven but also the very reality on the earth. Although the gospel is read in the Mass for the faithful, it is also very useful for the faithful to taste and experience it in their personal daily living.
The reading was set in the scene of the last supper. It was the most critical time for Jesus personally. Not only that he was facing a great crisis in his own life, it is also the crisis in the little community founded by him. He had to make a choice and that choice would affect not only him but also those who followed him. How did Jesus make the choice?
As we note above, at the last supper, Jesus realised that he has to embark to a painful and lonely journey on the earth before reaching his home in Heaven. Facing the reality of his choice, we can sense Jesus’ heart was once troubled but is now at peace as he told his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”
From his remarks, we can also sense Jesus’ strong belief in God. He invites us to believe in God and believe in him. He is the person that the disciples have spent three years together. They witness what he does, say and think. They decide to give up their families and trades to follow him. Now he is about to leave them. They suddenly feel like orphans. Jesus knows how they feel, because he also feels like an orphan to soon be abandoned by them and others and even his Father. But this is a journey that Jesus has to make. Without taking this journey, he cannot lead the disciples and us to go to that place that he will be as well. It is Jesus’ love of his disciples and us that motivates him to take the journey.
Thomas, as usual, wants some evidence to prove the move is right. Thus, he asks: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus invites him to walk with him: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also.” It seems that Jesus asks Thomas and us to be patient on the journey of faith by taking one step at a time. Patience is what we Christians need these days? The evil spirits know how to fool us by keeping us busy all the time, even in our act of faith.
Philip learns nothing from Jesus’ invitation of slowing down to Thomas and others. Philip demands instant gratification in our faith. Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” How often we ignore God’s presence in our daily living? How often do we realize that God is with us all the time? Like Philip, we always demand God to give us a sign. Religious experience is gained through constant prayer and growing close relationship with Jesus.
Finally, Jesus makes it clear to his disciples and us that although he is going to the Father, the works will continue. He invites us to join him to work for the Father: “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.”
Meditating on today’s gospel, can I recall a similar moment in my life? How did I choose at that moment? What experience that I gained from that moment? What was God’s invitation to me in such a moment? Can I give thanks to God for all these experiences when placing my own experience along side with that of Jesus in today’s gospel? Amen.