+ We have a serious but at the same time joyful message in our
readings today at mass. This time in a more gentle kind of way,
St. Paul, in the first reading conveys the message that all of the prophecies
concerning the Messiah, the Suffering Servant and his death and resurrection,
were fulfilled in Jesus, the Nazorean who was killed by us, the children of
Israel as it was foretold. The point of emphasis here being, even being killed
by his own people was thus prophesied, so there was no need to be defensive
about the reality that they were indeed the ones chosen from all time to carry
out this execution.
But we also must not divorce
the resurrection, the newness of life, the making things better than what they
were before the Fall, is also part of the actions of the executioners. God can
and does bring good out of everything that seems dark, oppressive and hopeless.
In the gospel passage Jesus
congratulates the Israelites for having faith in God (the Father Creator with
whom their ancestors dealt in their release from bondage in Israel), so he says
please have faith also in me, because the Father and I are one, I am his Son, I
am Son of Man, and Son of God! And in fact, it is when I will ascend from your
sight, that I will go and prepare a special dwelling (literally a mansion, a
house, a condo, an apartment) just for you, for you to call home when you enter
the glorious and magnificent kingdom of my Father, to live as a brother /
sister of mine and all the saints forever.
Then he tells them that they
already know the way to get there – as he was the living example of it for the
three years he taught about life in the Kingdom: but Thomas again is confused:
how do we know where you are going, how can we know the way: And so Jesus, o so
patiently and lovingly relates to Thomas – who represents all of us who need to
have things explained very slowly and deliberately to us: Thomas I AM the way,
I AM the truth about absolutely everything and every situation, and I AM the
very life that has begun in you now, and will reach fulfillment at your own
passing into eternity at your death! SO DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED! not
even for an instant! YOU ARE SAFE! YOU ARE FINE! YOU ARE MINE!
The Father has invited
everyone to family life in his kingdom, but it is also true that you must pass
through me to get there – there is no other way – no other way at all – how
could there be – you have to pass through my life, my passion, my crucifixion,
my resurrection and my ascension to glory in order to enjoy the fruits of what
all of that merited for you! BELIEVE
THIS, TURN FULLY TO ME! and stay connected with me until death! Amen.
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