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Spirituality of the Readings
Fifth Sunday of Easter A
May 18, 2014


The Way H
ome

The Gospel for Sunday has a touching story about Jesus and the disciples. He is helping them get ready for his suffering and death.

For the apostles this was a huge reversal. Remember when he asked them whether they would leave him, along with the rest of the crowd? Now it is he who is leaving. They are stunned.

Peter’s reply then might have been appropriate now. "Where will we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:67-8)

Jesus helps them. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God, have faith also in me.” The straightforward meaning of this directive is, you know how to trust, you do it with God. Use that same trust with me.

It goes right over their heads.

Of course, today we know that there is a much deeper meaning to what he said. To put it theologically, he is telling them, “I, Jesus, am in complete union with God. I am a revelation of everything that is in the Father. When you trust the Father you are trusting me in the very same act.

But theology did not help the disciples. So Jesus tried a metaphor.

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.

A comforting image, to be sure, of a home where we can all be together. He will come back and take us there. Who could misunderstand this?

The apostles could, and did, blocked by fear and grief. So Jesus used a different approach. He said, “Where I am going you know the way.”

Doubting Thomas barked out an answer. “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” To translate: paths have to lead somewhere. Just name the place and we will get there! But tell us!

Obviously Thomas was missing the deeper meaning. They would know the way to the Father because the Way is Jesus. He had often referred to himself as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

This is a beautiful depth of truth.

Too bad it did not work. Philip cut to the chase. “Just show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

This was a masterpiece of practical misunderstanding. Jesus, now shocked too, says loudly,

Have I been with you 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”?

He could because he was scared and distracted and checked by the ordinariness of our human existence. To lose the leader/messiah to whom he and the others had committed their entire lives, well, it would devastate them.

Sunday’s tender Gospel thus shows us Jesus’ attempt to draw the disciples into profound love. Only this could give meaning to Jesus’ suffering, which was just around the corner—just across the ravine of the brook Cedron in Jerusalem.

Peter had declared that he would lay down his life for Jesus (John 13:36)! Would he, Jesus asked. Like us, ultimately yes, but for now, no.

Something changed that "no" to "yes". Was it Pentecost?

Wait and see!

John Foley S. J.

Fr. John Foley, S. J. is a composer and scholar at
Saint Louis University.

You are invited to email a note to the author of this reflection.
Copyright © 2014, John B. Foley, S. J.
All rights reserved.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.

Art by Martin Erspamer, O.S.B.
from Religious Clip Art for the Liturgical Year (A, B, and C).
Used by permission of Liturgy Training Publications. This art may be reproduced only by parishes who purchase the collection in book or CD-ROM form. For more information go to: http://www.ltp.org/