Jesus and the Father

05-03-2020Weekly Reflection

“Believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me…” This is one of the central mysteries of our faith, Easter highlights this even further, Jn. 14:112 presents us another picture of the Relationship of Jesus and Father. Many scholars believe that John chapter 1317 commonly known as the Farewell Discourse, contains most Jesus’ Last Supper Discourse. The scene for this very long discourse is the last supper, Jesus mentions, “I am going to prepare a place for you…” His disciples assumed that He was speaking of a physical place, but Jesus was not speaking of any physical room in Jerusalem. And this is not the first time that He is talking about His Father, who sent Him into this world.

Could Jesus be talking about the “Temple,” because they have heard Him talking about His Fathers house when He drove away the money changers outside the Temple? “My house shall be a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves.” (Mt. 21:13) The Temple is surely the Father’s house, was Jesus talking about preparing a place for them in the Temple? But again, Jesus was not talking about the Temple here, but He did talk often of His Father being “in Heaven.” In the Lord’s Prayer, it starts with the acclamation: Our Father in Heaven. Remembering all this, could Jesus be really talking about going to Heaven, the House of His Father, and when He has prepared a place for them, come back to take them to Heaven?

This new revelation was too much to grasp for Thomas and Philip. So, they spoke up, honestly admitting that they did not really understand what Jesus was saying. And their questions really made sense even for us. Lord, what is your will for me? Where are you in the midst of this pandemic that is happening? What are You going to do with our life? In this pandemic, how can we be obedient disciples worthy of a place in your Father’s house? Jesus answering His disciples presents another aspect of His relationship with the Father. But first, He wants us not to let our hearts be troubled. We have put Faith in Him, have Faith also in the Father. Faith is the key to knowing more about the Father and discovering His Will.

“I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” Often, the Lord answers us not by satisfying our curiosity, but by providing us with what we need and more than what we need. At times, acknowledging or being grateful to God turns what we have into enough. Knowing Jesus is knowing the way. When He says in Jn. 10, “I am the sheep gate…” literally, we all need to pass through Him to become part of the “sheep fold” of God. Now, it makes sense when He adds at the end, “no one comes to the Father except through me.” If we listen to Him, we will know the truth. And when we live with Him, follow His Will, then we will have fullness of life.

“Faith, if it does not have work, is dead.” (Jm. 2:17) Jesus says in the Gospel, “The man who has faith in me will do the work I do…” In effect, Jesus is saying that He can continue His work in the world through us when we trust Him. The 1st reading presents a great example of the work of Jesus, “election of the 1st seven deacons,” service to the poor is an essential ministry of the church. This time of quarantine, we in the parish could not be grateful enough to our St. Vincent de Paul for the great ministry they are doing. The men and women who come faithfully to our pantry to receive the calls and be the hand of God to help those in need. We salute you; we bow our heads to honor your services and dedication. And we thank also the many unknown supporters and donors of our local SVDP conference.