1-May-15

Gospel JN 14:1-6
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.”
Reflection:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me."
What exactly is this "trouble" that takes hold of our hearts? It is fear, of course. We are fearful and anxious about so many things, our children, our jobs, our fortunes, our relationships, our future.
In the story of Martha and Mary, Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
What is that "one thing" that is needed? Faith, of course! The antidote to fear is faith!
When I feel the fear rising within me, I resort to repeating a little mantra that I've used for years, "O'Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put my trust in you!" It's amazing how quickly calm comes over me when I can remember to put my trust in Jesus Christ.
Jesus told the disciples, "Where I am going you know the way,"
Thomas was confused and said to Jesus, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” As we read Thomas' words, we can almost hear the anxiety in his voice.
When Jesus said, "You know the way," he wasn't talking about a set of directions like a roadmap or a GPS. He was reminding Thomas and the other disciples that he had been teaching them for three years about how to live a life of love, forgiveness, and service to their fellow man, and to have trust in the mercy of God. That, he was saying, was "the way" to assure that, "Where I am you also may be."
O'Sacred Heart of Jesus, help me to overcome my every fear and to put my trust in you.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6