Greetings on this the Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Readings: Acts 13:26-33; PS 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab; Jn 14:1-6
Notes
We are deep in the celebration of the Resurrection. Easter season is seven weeks long not ending until the celebration of Pentecost. The Father sends the Son and the Holy Spirit to save and protect Humanity and the Earth itself (to destroy those who destroy the earth Rev 11:18e).
Summary
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
There is great mystery in the reality of the Begotten One. The other monotheistic faiths suffer bruising insult when the revelation of Begotten and Trinitarian Life is discussed and promoted by the Church. No matter what we say there is pain and, for some of them, charges of blasphemy. Tolerance (even begrudged acceptance) for the Christian theology often only comes through the virtues of Charity. Anger comes from when we act in opposition to charity.
We have no logic that suffices but the logic of Love.
The Father uses the language of begotten. Any parent can identify with this language with the birth of a child. Who among us does not identify with our children as a part of us – yet distinct person – and fully their own person? Trinity is not that distant from the human experience.
Jesus uses the language of a marriage proposal: I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. The intimacy of married love as the intelligible expression of divine love.
Reflection
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
Personal Reflection
I chose not to engage the theological argument of theological insufficiency and disappointment. We are fallen men, all of us. Jesus gives us the ways of the Beatitudes, friendship and justice/mercy as sufficient pathway for all. We Christians experience this as a direct effect of the Messiah. Others, in our thinking, experience the same by degree but from the same root.
We must live our lives as if we are bound by spousal love for one another. Not as you may experience marriage (broken and disappointing, perhaps) but in the ideal of that promise as we have seen among us the beautiful loves in this world.
How? How indeed. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. Jesus knows such Other centric love is at the same time a gift, a skill, an action, a decision and the nature of our being. Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Love, then do what you want.
First Reading
We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our fathers he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm,
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.”
Responsorial
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
Gospel Acclamation
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
Thomas said to him, “Master, 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.”
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry