Reflection
One of the most touching scenes in the crucifixion narrative occurs when Jesus ‘commissions’ the care of Mary to the Beloved disciple, and in turn entrusts this disciple into her care. The outcome is quite concrete
‘from that day the disciple made a place for her in his home’.
This image of the creation of and welcome to, a ‘home’ might be a lens through which to look again at today’s gospel text.
Yes, it is very familiar to us and is often used in funeral liturgies. It is a comforting image of Jesus going ahead of us, of his making room for us in the heavenly kingdom and of his welcoming of us into such an eternal dwelling. It borrows heavily on the most basic of human projects – to provide shelter and care for another.
In our day-to-day spiritual life, we can rest in this image also. Jesus is our ‘home’ and he is the centre of our world of meaning, belonging and authentic living.
We enter his home, and dwell in his company simply by faith. This is his simple appeal and the only price of eternal belonging and safety – “have faith also in me”.
Easter, the season where we celebrate all the dimensions of the Great Event in human evolution – the return of Jesus from the dead, his continuing presence in the Resurrection, his ascension to heaven and his gifting of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our lives – calls us to confidently embrace a heartfelt and faith-filled assent to all these dimensions of life.
Let the words echo daily. Jesus has promised, and promises again today, to go and “prepare a place for us” and that he will come back again and take us to himself, so that where he is we may also be.
This is beyond proof and empirical knowledge, we cannot ‘know’ the way, rather we are invited to live the ‘way of Jesus’. That will be our map and our ‘way’ forward.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Let the words echo daily.
