John 14:1-12
If you read the news, it’s hard to get through a day without something new to worry about. It’s not just climate change or a nuclear war or a humanity threatening plague anymore. Now we worry about artificial intelligence taking over the world. If there will even be a world. There’s some new activity going on in the sun that might destroy our complex civilization that relies on satellites and electronic communication. And worse yet, it appears that the earth is rotating faster than it used to, which might set off planet busting earthquakes. But it’s silly to worry about these things. Of course disaster is something that will touch most of us sooner or later -- The people in Ukraine, the people in Sudan, were living normal lives not too long ago. And disaster can be closer and even more personal. The diagnosis of a terminal disease; a major accident that leaves you with six months of rehabilitation. And even when we worry about these things, it doesn't seem to help. Jesus today gives us and his apostles an answer to worry.
First he tells us that he is going to prepare a place for us, and once that is ready, he’ll come back for us. We can take comfort in that promise. How many martyrs went to their deaths comforted by that promise? I meet a lot of people not too far from death when I visit hospitals and nursing home. It’s truly remarkable the difference faith in Jesus makes. It isn’t that people without faith are frightened, because most aren’t. But they are resigned; they have nothing to look forward to. In contrast, it raises my spirits when I meet someone who is positively looking forward to the next life. Jesus’ words, “Let your hearts not be troubled…” are truly comforting.
Second, Jesus tells us something we need to know -- he is the way, the truth and the life. Jesus tells us no one comes to the father except through him. Those of us with friends and relatives who are not Christian or who have broken away from Christianity rightfully worry about them. But we shouldn’t worry too much, just enough to remember them in prayer. The best thing we can do is to live a Christian life -- participate in the sacraments, have a prayer life, treat other people the way we would like to be treated -- and one thing a lot of us don’t do, is try to develop a mind formed by the church. We Catholics keep coming back to Mass because there is something about our faith that draws us, that calls out to us. But how much better would things be for us and for our friends and neighbors if we made an effort to understand what the Church teaches and why she teaches it, and how it relates to the teachings of Christ. This is the way, this is the truth, this leads us to everlasting life. And as we become more and more in tune with the teachings of the church, we become better witnesses to those who have not yet been blessed with the graces we have been given. Jesus is the way, the Church is his bride and his body, entrusted with re presenting him down through the ages in word and in the Holy Eucharist.
Third, Jesus reveals the Father to us. In the Old Testament, after the fall of our first parents, you keep coming across the idea that no one can see God and live. When God has any interaction with human beings, it’s mysterious, like visions and dreams; or it’s overwhelming, like the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire that lead the Israelites through the desert. In the Garden of Eden God and Adam spoke together like friends. Jesus in today’s gospel tells Philip that if you have seen him, you’ve seen the Father; and if you have heard him, those are the words of the Father. And if you still don’t get it, look at what Jesus has done -- walked on water, driven out demons, healed the sick, raised the dead, a long list -- but things that only God can do. Granted, others have worked miracles. But none claimed to be the source of the miracles, as Jesus did.
So with these assurances, Jesus tells us not to let our hearts be troubled. And perhaps we should ask on this fifth Sunday after celebrating his victory over sin and death, whether we are troubled? Because being troubled may be a sign that our faith needs some shoring up. And we can say that surrender prayer, Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything.
