The Gospel selection for this Sunday is from John 14:1-14. This
passage begins the portion of John's Gospel often called the "Farewell
Discourses" (John 14:1-17:26). It is part of Christ's effort on Maundy
Thursday evening to summarize key teachings and prepare His followers
for coming events: His death, resurrection, ascension and the new
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
For good and bad
reasons, the first part of today's Gospel may be familiar to many people
as a "funeral passage" because John 14:1-6 has been read at many burial services. The good aspect is
that these hope-filled words of our Lord are appropriate for Christian
views of death. The negative aspect is that we should not limit our
understanding or appreciation of the words to the funeral context. John
14 applies to the whole Christian understanding of life and death, and
it is very fitting to see our selection in the Easter context of Christ's
resurrection.
In John 14, Jesus uses the ordinary
imagery of a hospitable home to describe the kingdom of heaven. There
will be an appropriate place prepared for all the faithful. The
disciples are troubled and anxious about many matters. They have not and
do not understand all He says, but they sense that their relationship
with Jesus is changing. The little group that has developed around Him
over three years will no longer be the same. The dramatic events of
Christ's death, resurrection and ascension will separate them from His
physical worldly presence.
So in spite of His own
sufferings and the disciples' failings, Christ offers His followers
strengthening words. He points to God the Father's care for them and to
His continuing unity with the heavenly Father. Regardless of changing
earthly circumstances, they must trust in the Father and in Christ. The
Lord will return to take them to be with Him. For He is unique. He is
the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Having confidence in
Jesus, the one who reveals God and is the unique way to God, is the
means of moving beyond all the uncertainties, trials and dangers of
earthly life into true life. In light of Christ's resurrection, our
faith and hope should grow ever stronger!.
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