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.
Where I am going you know the way.”
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.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.”
— John 14:1-12
Gospel Reflection: Have Courage To Admit When You Don’t Understand
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is speaking to His disciples. He tells them that He is going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house, and: “I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going, you know the way.”
Thomas has the courage to admit that he does not understand what Jesus is saying. He speaks up and says, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”
When I reflect on this, I see Thomas setting an example for me. When I fail to understand what the Scripture is saying to me, I should not just say to myself, ‘I don’t get it’ and move on. I should stop and ask the Holy Spirit to help me understand! And I know that I will not always come to an understanding at that time. There are mysteries in our Faith, and there are truths that I am not spiritually mature enough to understand – yet. I must keep reflecting in my heart!
In the Gospel, Thomas does not have to search any further. Jesus delivers a key moment of insight: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
When I reflect on these words, I hear that I don’t need to search for the right way – I need to search for Jesus and follow Him on the way! Jesus will teach me the truth! Jesus will lead me to everlasting life!
Come, Holy Spirit! Give me the wisdom to seek Jesus and the fortitude to follow His way rather than the ways of this world! Amen.
Find More Catholic Gospel Reflections
Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings (Cycle C) (Food for the Soul Series)
Who Is Jesus?: Discovering Christ in the Gospels: A 12-Week Catholic Bible Study
Image: https://picryl.com/media/christ-taking-leave-of-the-apostles-0e19df
