Fifth Sunday of Easter

 

The readings for the last few Sundays have been about the Resurrection, but today’s Gospel takes us back in time to an event in Jesus’ life before his Passion. Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to prepare a place for them in his Father’s house. He promises that where he is going, his disciples will be able to follow. Thomas, who will later doubt the disciples’ reports that they have seen the Risen Lord, contradicts Jesus by saying that the disciples don’t know where Jesus is going or how to get there. Jesus explains that he himself is the way, the truth, and the life. In knowing and loving Jesus, the disciples now love God the Father.

Philip then makes a request that challenges Jesus’ words. Philip wants Jesus to show the Father to the disciples. Recall that Jesus has just told his disciples, “If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” As a good teacher, Jesus responds to Philip by repeating and elaborating on what he has just told the disciples: they have seen and known Jesus, so they have seen and known the Father. Then Jesus offers another reassurance about his departure: because of faith in God and in Jesus, the disciples will do the work that Jesus has done and more.

In today’s gospel we get another glimpse of two things the humanness of Jesus and the disciple’s humanness in trying to understand Jesus.  The disciples were assured that Jesus had a plan for them and would prepare a place for them.  They have questions and doubts, as Jesus’ friends they are called to have trust, have faith, and believe.  Same is true for us.  We must believe, have trust, and have faith.  Jesus shows us the way.  We know the way and we often try to take a shortcut.  There are no shortcuts.  Following Jesus is the call to act as he did and live out that we are invited to follow the way, the truth, and the life.