5th Sunday of Easter Time Year A - 7/5/2023 - Gospel: John 14: 1-12
Oneness of God
People often choose the first part of this message to say farewell to their loved ones because it gives much consolation and hope to mourners. The consolation comes from the knowledge that,
'I shall return to take you with me' v.3.
The separation is neither an abandonment nor a permanent separation, but only a temporary absence. The hope comes from Jesus' promise,
'Where I am you may be too'v.3.
In the future, the disciples will see Jesus again. The time is not specified in this context. We recall the three prophecies Jesus told his disciples; that three days after the crucifixion He will rise again Mt 20,19. Today's text is Jesus' farewell speech to his disciples before His Passion. They would not expect that one day He would leave them alone. This separation gave them much trouble. Jesus told them they need to trust God and trust him,
'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me' Jn 14,1.
When they place their trust in God and hope in Jesus; their trouble is lessened. Jesus shows the disciples that He understands their troubled hearts. In times of trouble, our hearts tell us how much we place our trust and hope in God and Jesus. The more we place our trust in God; the less trouble we experience. Trusting in God certainly calms our hearts. It gives us hope, and hope is life.
The disciples listened to Jesus, but it seems that they failed to grasp what Jesus told them. They wondered why Jesus was going away alone, and would not allow anyone to follow. Thomas raised the issue that he didn't know the way. Jesus replied:
'I am the way, the truth, and the life v.6'.
This saying confused them even more. Jesus clarifies the point He made about the way. Jesus made it clear to them, that He is going to the Father. After Thomas, it was Philip who expressed a desire to see the Father. Jesus went on to say, He is in the Father and the Father is in him.
'To have seen me is to have seen the Father v.9'.
The unity, the oneness between the Father and Jesus, makes it harder for the disciples to understand.
'You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me v.11'.
Jesus told the disciples that the oneness of God is beyond reasonable explanation. It requires faith to believe. Jesus told his disciples that his teaching and miracles are the signs of unity, because the Father works through Him. There is no reasonable explanation for the miracles Jesus had done. We know the deaf hear, the blind see, the lame walk, and dead were brought to life. They are miracles because we accept their reality, but are unable to explain it. The oneness of God is deeper than these miracles.
Today we understand Jesus' farewell speech is the way of the cross. His Passion, death, and resurrection reveal his unconditional love for mankind. His Passion is known as
'I am the way, the Truth and the Life v.6'.
We all have our own 'passion', and that is our final destination. For those who believe in Jesus, and are faithful to Him, will arrive at the same destination- God's kingdom. They don't travel alone, but Jesus is their companion on the way. He knows the way because he has done, not a one-way, but a return trip. He is the Way because he is in the Father. We believe in his promise. The phrase 'I shall return to take you with me' implies, that Jesus is our companion on the way to the Father. When we stumble, Jesus assists us to stand up; and leads us to the Truth. It is not a kind of truth the world promotes, but the Truth of God. The Truth that makes us profess God is our Father, who is the author of life and eternal life. The Truth is that through Jesus; we come to know the Father. The Truth is that those who believe Jesus will be led by him and dwell in Him, 'Where I am you may be too v.3'. That is our hope.
'I shall return to take you with me' v.3.
The separation is neither an abandonment nor a permanent separation, but only a temporary absence. The hope comes from Jesus' promise,
'Where I am you may be too'v.3.
In the future, the disciples will see Jesus again. The time is not specified in this context. We recall the three prophecies Jesus told his disciples; that three days after the crucifixion He will rise again Mt 20,19. Today's text is Jesus' farewell speech to his disciples before His Passion. They would not expect that one day He would leave them alone. This separation gave them much trouble. Jesus told them they need to trust God and trust him,
'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me' Jn 14,1.
When they place their trust in God and hope in Jesus; their trouble is lessened. Jesus shows the disciples that He understands their troubled hearts. In times of trouble, our hearts tell us how much we place our trust and hope in God and Jesus. The more we place our trust in God; the less trouble we experience. Trusting in God certainly calms our hearts. It gives us hope, and hope is life.
The disciples listened to Jesus, but it seems that they failed to grasp what Jesus told them. They wondered why Jesus was going away alone, and would not allow anyone to follow. Thomas raised the issue that he didn't know the way. Jesus replied:
'I am the way, the truth, and the life v.6'.
This saying confused them even more. Jesus clarifies the point He made about the way. Jesus made it clear to them, that He is going to the Father. After Thomas, it was Philip who expressed a desire to see the Father. Jesus went on to say, He is in the Father and the Father is in him.
'To have seen me is to have seen the Father v.9'.
The unity, the oneness between the Father and Jesus, makes it harder for the disciples to understand.
'You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me v.11'.
Jesus told the disciples that the oneness of God is beyond reasonable explanation. It requires faith to believe. Jesus told his disciples that his teaching and miracles are the signs of unity, because the Father works through Him. There is no reasonable explanation for the miracles Jesus had done. We know the deaf hear, the blind see, the lame walk, and dead were brought to life. They are miracles because we accept their reality, but are unable to explain it. The oneness of God is deeper than these miracles.
Today we understand Jesus' farewell speech is the way of the cross. His Passion, death, and resurrection reveal his unconditional love for mankind. His Passion is known as
'I am the way, the Truth and the Life v.6'.
We all have our own 'passion', and that is our final destination. For those who believe in Jesus, and are faithful to Him, will arrive at the same destination- God's kingdom. They don't travel alone, but Jesus is their companion on the way. He knows the way because he has done, not a one-way, but a return trip. He is the Way because he is in the Father. We believe in his promise. The phrase 'I shall return to take you with me' implies, that Jesus is our companion on the way to the Father. When we stumble, Jesus assists us to stand up; and leads us to the Truth. It is not a kind of truth the world promotes, but the Truth of God. The Truth that makes us profess God is our Father, who is the author of life and eternal life. The Truth is that through Jesus; we come to know the Father. The Truth is that those who believe Jesus will be led by him and dwell in Him, 'Where I am you may be too v.3'. That is our hope.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
