John 14:1-12 NRSVue

1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
I am invited today to look again at the Gospel passages that have been presented to me over the past two days. I notice how I am feeling as I see a passage I have so recently prayed with. I name the feeling. Perhaps I feel resistant to looking at the passage again? Or perhaps I see it as an invitation from the Holy Spirit to go more deeply where the passage leads me. I let go of any resistance and open my heart to God’s loving presence and action in me through his Word.

Reflection
I read the passage carefully, two or three times. Does anything stand out? Perhaps I am struck by Jesus’ desire that I should believe in him. I am invited to look at the depth or otherwise of my own faith in Jesus. Whether my faith is strong or weak, I discuss it honestly with Jesus now. Or perhaps I notice that Jesus’ desire is that I should be with him where he is. How does it make me feel to hear those words? Again, I talk to Jesus about my feelings, and then I sit in silence for a while to listen to him.