Friday of the Fourth
Week of Easter
(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)
The Philippines
will remember Douglas MacArthur for the words he spoke at his forced departure
from the country at the beginning of World War II. He promised the people, “I shall return,” and
he did. No doubt, some Filipinos joined
the resistance to the Japanese invaders on the strength of MacArthur’s promise. In the gospel today Jesus means to instill
such confidence in his disciples with a similar promise.
Jesus is having a farewell dinner with his disciples. He does not want them to think that he will
forget them. Rather, he exhorts them to trust
that he will come back for him. Thomas
objects that they will get lost in the meantime because they do not know the
way. He assures them that they do: “I am
the way and the truth and the life.”
Jesus is the way; that is, following
him leads to God. He speaks the truth; that is, they have not been deceived
about the way. And he conveys life; that is, he has provided them strength
for the journey in the Eucharist.
We sometimes find ourselves in bleak situations. Perhaps we face job termination, mortgage
foreclosure, or an “iffy” diagnosis. We must
not cower but be confident. As Jesus spent
his last night consoling his friends rather than seeking pity for himself so we
can undergo our trials similarly trusting God.
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