Word to the Wise
Friday, May 12, 2017 - 4th Week of Easter - Fri
[Acts 13:26-33 and John 14:1-6]FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017. FRIDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER [Acts 13:26-33 and John 14:1-6] "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." [John] The "Last Supper" discourse is a long collection of Jesus' sayings that the evangelist has used to create a "preparation" for the disciples in the light of what would follow the Last Supper. Two statements in today's passage would be familiar to most of us. The first one has been the subject of some "heaven humor" as people speculate on an older translation that says "mansions" instead of "dwelling places." This statement has also been balanced against the second statement in ecumenical discourse. The second statement, an "I am" statement, has been the source of controversy as some fundamentalists have interpreted it as meaning that an explicit faith in Jesus is required for salvation, which would consign billions of people to oblivion. Salvation does indeed come through Jesus Christ, but not everyone is going to know or appreciate their benefactor. It is not up to us humans to determine anyone's eternal destiny. In the scene in John 21:21, Peter asks an interesting question: "What about him?" Jesus, in effect, says, "That's none of your business." We may have some very interesting neighbors among those heavenly "mansions." (I recommend to everyone Flannery O'Connor's story, "Revelation." ). Thomas learns that the "way" is not a direction but a person. The "way" is not on our GPS but in our hearts. That is how we get to the Father. AMEN
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