Word to the Wise
Saturday, May 13, 2017 - 4th Week of Easter - Sat
[Acts 13:44-52 and John 14:7-14]SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2017. SATURDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER [Our Lady of Fatima] [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 principal "work" of God in the Gospel According to John is to bring people to faith in the one whom God has sent, Jesus Christ. The passage today from the "Farewell Discourse" at the Last Supper begins with stressing the unity of Jesus with the Father. Philip is the instrument of "misunderstanding" this time, just as Thomas was earlier about the "way." Furthermore, the constant association of faith with seeing in this gospel shows up: "Who ever has seen me has seen the Father." Jesus is preparing the disciples (and all future ones) for the arduous task of preaching and bringing others to faith in him. They are going to do "greater" works because he is "going to the Father." That refers to the gift of the Spirit which will "lead them into all truth." (This is coming soon in this discourse.). All of us receive this gift of the Spirit as part of our baptism/confirmation. Those sacramental events are not just one-time things that are over and done with. They are present powers that can enable us to live and preach our faith in ways that help others to come to belief. This is God's work and it is our work, too. AMEN