The Gospel is part of the discourse that Jesus addressed to the disciples during the Last Supper. To understand his words, we must try to identify ourselves with the dramatic moment he pronounced them.
Judas had just left the Upper Room on his way to the darkness of the betrayal of the Master. The eleven who remained with Jesus were frightened and troubled. Jesus wants to prepare them for when they will no longer have his physical presence with them. And John presents four disciples who raise their concerns and uncertainties to Jesus. The number four, as we know, indicates multitude, the whole of humanity. The questions they ask Jesus are those we ask ourselves today because we are like them, and Jesus is not physically present with us.
John records the questions of Peter, Thomas, Philip and Judas. Peter wanted to know ‘why could he not follow the Lord now’ while Thomas sounded confused: “We do not know where you are going, and how shall we know the way?” Philip’s concern was, “Show us the Father, and that is enough.” Judas wanted the Lord to ‘manifest himself not just to the disciples but to the world.’
The moment of discouragement that these eleven live is the same that we experience today when tragedies strike and our dreams and hopes are shattered. We are easily tempted to resign ourselves to evil. This is the context in which we must place the words of Jesus that we reflect on this Sunday.
When our evangelisation efforts seem fruitless and very few people show interest in knowing God, we ask like Judas: Why is the Lord not revealing himself to the world so that the whole world would believe in him? Today’s Gospel gives us the answer. The revelation that Jesus gives is that of love. Jesus wants to manifest himself with the Father, not through some miraculous signs but by coming to dwell with his disciples.
But the world is not interested in this revelation; the world is interested in power, dominion, glory and riches. But the works of God are always and only works of love; to liberate people from all the slavery of sin, sickness, superstition, of religious and social discrimination.
The promise of Jesus and the Father dwelling in us means that, when we receive the word of the Gospel, we welcome the life of God, his Spirit, and are led to do the same works as Jesus and the Father. Thus it becomes our turn to be liberators of people. Therefore, it is easy to recognise if and when Jesus and the Father are present and working in us.
John also presents Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit to encourage his Community. “The Comforter who will teach and remind” all that Jesus had said (v. 26). Today, the Church is confronted with complex questions that await a light from the Gospel (bioethics, interreligious dialogue, difficult moral choices…).
For your reflection
The peace promised by Jesus is realised when the desire to compete, dominate, and be the first gives way to service and selfless love for the last.
Father Josekutty
Mathew CMF
