RBWords

     Today's gospel scripture has something in common with yesterday's.  They both feature a question by one of the disciples that enables Jesus to focus attention on himself as the "way, the truth and the life" and on his relationship to his Father.  This will serve as the "platform" for much of what will follow in the long "farewell discourse" that stretches from chapter 14 to chapter 17!  The purpose of these words, on one level, is to prepare the disciples for what will happen after the Last Supper.  On another level, these words are directed to those who, like Thomas and Philip, are too oriented to the physical reality and have difficulty imagining Jesus as someone far greater than the carpenter from Nazareth or more than a great teacher or prophet.  For those at table with him, there is understandable confusion about where Jesus is "going" and why?  

     Jesus is returning to the one who sent him, with whom he is completely united, and yet he will continue to be present through the Holy Spirit who will come as a result of his death and resurrection.  The disciples may be like the child who awakes in the night and cries.  Mom rushes in to comfort and tells the child who is frightened and lonely that he or she is not alone but God is always there.  The child responds, "But I want someone with skin on!"  Putting "skin on" the Holy Spirit will be the task of the church!  After his resurrection, Jesus will tell them, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you."  Then he will"breathe" on them and say, "Receive the Holy Spirit..."  [John 20:21-22]  But at the moment, the disciples cannot see this.  We who read these words and reflect on them with the 2000 years of experience can be challenged to understand more fully the role of the Holy Spirit in continuing our experience of Christ in our midst - the truth that sets us free. [John 8:31] AMEN