Homilette for Monday, May 5, 2008

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(John 16:29-33)

If you have difficulty following the dialogue in the gospel of John, you are in good company. The disciples in the reading today admit that they are not always able to understand what Jesus says. We need not think that Jesus actually spoke in such long, abstract sentences. Most likely, the evangelist John inherited his sayings from the apostles and the beloved disciple, his special source. He then formed them into discourses or sermons to explain different elements of Christian belief.

Studying Jesus’ words carefully will promote faith. Certainly John the evangelist believed that Jesus is the Son of God. He presents Jesus as omniscient, knowing even the thoughts that those around him are turning over in their heads. More importantly, he emphasizes Jesus’ complete identification with the Father. Only John pictures Jesus as saying, “I and the Father are one.”

In the reading the disciples express their faith in Jesus as we do every Sunday at mass. Jesus takes note of their belief because he wants them to recall it when they are not so physically close to him. Just so, our repetition of the creed maintains our faith when we are not joined to Christ in the Eucharist. When we are defrauded or when we commit a grave sin, we may remember the act of faith and realize that all is not lost. Indeed, whatever mistake we have made or whatever difficulty we face, Jesus can rectify the situation because he has “conquered the world.”