Word to the Wise
Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 4th Week of Easter - Sat
[Acts 13:44-52 and John 14:7-14]SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 SATURDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER [Acts 13:44-52 and John 14:7-14] "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father." [John] The disciples, in John's account of the Last Supper, are trying to understand Jesus' words. Thomas thinks the "way" is geographic. Philip thinks Jesus can show him an image of the Father that is separate from Jesus. Jesus seems exasperated: "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." Everything comes down to a matter of faith in Jesus. The disciples (and we) are faced with the person of Jesus who has done the works of his Father and now tells us that we will do similar things if we believe in the one whom the Father has sent - Jesus. We cannot separate the messenger from the sender. They are one. It is the Spirit that will be given which will enable all of this to happen. It was a lot to take in on a night filled with anxiety and it is a lot to take in as we sit with our coffee and read this. I can only recommend a slow and careful reading of the Gospel of John to allow the portrait of Jesus to sink in. AMEN