Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On this Mother’s Day God wants to help everyone and especially moms. The Lord is alive and living in a new dimension, and he wants you to have an experience of him. He comes not to judge you or look down on you, just the opposite; he comes to lift you up, and give you life in abundance. Our series Face 2 Face continues also.
Jesus tells his apostles not to be worried about his upcoming departure (John 14: 1-12) or the one who will betray him since in his Father’s house, which is the Church, there are many dwelling places. The Father’s house can also refer to Christians who have an adult faith and therefore Christ can be seen in them. The presence of a Christian creates peace and is a sign to those who do not believe or whose faith is weak. If one sees a couple that reconciles rather than divorces and goes on to have more children it is proof that God is real. This could not have happened on their efforts alone. The witness that a Christian gives is fundamental for society today.
Jesus says to the disciples that they know the ‘way’ to the Father’s house, which is also how the early Church was referred to, even in Scripture it was called the Way. It is a good name since Christianity is a way of living, not a set of rules. It is something that ought to affect our whole life. How little the apostles understood Jesus Christ even after three years of daily contact, and repeated explanations.
After Thomas complains that he does not know where Jesus is going and how can he know the way, Jesus gives one of the supreme affirmations of who he is in one sentence: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. He shows us the way to the Father, and he alone gives access to the Father. He is the Only Way to the Father. No one else can do this, only Christ.
Then Philip also asks to be shown the Father but is appears that he wants some extraordinary manifestation of him, which is a sign of weak faith. Jesus also goes one step further by saying when you believe in me you will also do the works that I do. So a Christian also can perform the works of God, the saving works of God, through the Church. For this to happen Jesus needs to return to the Father and send the Holy Spirit. Only through Christ, which means only through the Church, can you be saved. Not by the job, or your money, or your health, but only through Christ and his Church can you be happy.
We can see Jesus Face 2 Face this week in his compassion for the apostles and disciples. They are perturbed about his imminent leaving and news of his betrayal and so this entire chapter (John 14) Jesus wants to strengthen their faith. He wants to build them up, and you and I also.
Also Peter’s letter reminds us that you are being built into a spiritual house, with living stones (1 Peter 2: 4-9) . It is important today to have a church that is beautiful and updated and attractive to the people. However, it is even more important to be a spiritual body, a church, that is united and is a sign that speaks to people today. Through you the church, the parish, can become a dwelling place for many others, where Jesus Christ can be seen. What a privilege it is to be part of this building, this mission. What could be greater than this? When you and your family lean on Christ then this domestic Church cannot be destroyed by anything. It is not by your strength but by God’s.
Don’t be afraid to announce and proclaim the noble acts that God has done for you. Not on a street corner but in a conversation with a friend or colleague from work or a roommate. When you spend time with people occasions present themselves. Always be ready to say what God has done for you, and to invite him or her to come with you to church. You will do great things Jesus says, when you bring others to the Father.