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By Sr Dr Rose Duffy csb;
First Reading Acts 6:1-7;
Second Reading 1 Pt 2:4-9;
Gospel Jn 14:1-12
“Trust” and “believe” are the key words of this Gospel passage, which is often used in a funeral Mass. It reminds us that in death, our life is “changed not ended” and that everlasting life now begins. In order to believe this, we must continue to trust God with all our hearts: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me. “
Jesus tells us that our heavenly Father has room in heaven for each and all of us: “There are many rooms in my Father’s house.” We have only to trust Jesus and his words: “if there were not, I should have told you”. He is going ahead of us to prepare our place, and then to take us with him to our heavenly home: “so that where I am you too may be.” He reminds the disciples that:” You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Surprisingly, Thomas challenges Jesus’ words: “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” To reinforce the meaning of his words, Jesus replies with a powerful description of himself: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
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Philip then questions Jesus and makes a demand of him. “Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.” Jesus is no doubt shocked and hurt by Philip’s lack of trust in him, and he rebukes him in a gentle but strong and clear way: “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? To have seen me is to have seen the Father, so how can you say, “Let us see the Father?”
Jesus then emphasises the need to believe, in order to understand. “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” He speaks of the intimacy and unity that exists between himself and the Father. He states that the Father can only be seen in and through his words and work. “The words that I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.”
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Jesus concludes “most solemnly”, with the wonderful statement that: “whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father.” This indicates the power of belief in Jesus and his loving Father. It can lead us to perform works that are beyond what we could ever have thought possible.
We have seen and experienced the truth of these words in the selfless deeds of Christians through the ages, who have suffered persecution in defence of our faith, and in service to the poor, the weak and the vulnerable. Many have been martyred for their faith. Through the wisdom, inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit, they committed themselves to following closely in the footsteps of their Lord and have seen “miracles” occur in his name.
May we Christians today, and those who come after us, experience the same trust and belief of which Jesus speaks in today’s Gospel reading.
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