Jesus wants His people to understand and believe that He is truly one with the Eternal Father
Reflections on the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (May 10, 2020): Acts 6:1-7; PS 33:1-2,4-5,18-19; 1PT 2:4-9; JN 14:1-12
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
The Son of God who suffers and dies and rises again will lead us to life everlasting...
Jesus told His Apostles as well as the crowds who gathered to hear Him preach many things about heaven and earth, about their lives and their relationships with one another. Today’s Gospel is especially rich in that Jesus reveals to them the love of God – both in His words and in His own person. The Jewish people who listened to Him were devoted to God and looked to the Law of Moses for direction on how to do live accordingly. Jesus did not want to interfere with their desire to obey the Ten Commandments. But He was letting all who were open to Him know that He was asking something more of them because He was something more. Not only was Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah the Jews had so eagerly awaited, but He was also the Redeemer of every nation, every person everywhere. He was the Son of God come to teach and to rescue His beloved children and embrace them in His eternal merciful heart. He said, “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.… Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else, believe because of the works themselves” (John 14:6-7, 10-11).
Our Lord never intended to simply tell us how to get to heaven, or what truth really means, or why life is greater than we know. He came to open Himself to us because He is Himself the Way and the Truth and the Life. Jesus is God come to unite us with Him and, through Him, the Father and the Holy Spirit as well. The people who gathered around Christ witnessed His goodness and holiness and now He wanted them to believe in Him as more than a prophet or even a Messiah. The Son of God who suffers and dies and rises again will lead us to life everlasting.
Suggested missionary action: In these days, let us draw hope and strength from the Lord’s words: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” May His love fill our lives as we strive to follow His way and live His truth each day.
