Jn 14,1-12.
This discourse takes place at the Last Supper immediately after Jesus has told his disciples that he is about to suffer and die (13,31-33), asks them to love one another (13,34-35), and predicts that Peter will betray him (13,38).
Jesus is concerned with what will happen to his disciples after he dies.
He begins by exhorting them not to let their hearts be troubled but to trust/have faith in God and in Jesus himself. He is going to prepare a place for them in the Father’s house and then will return to take them to it, so that they can be with him there. Jesus assumes that they know where he is going and the way to it. We should be grateful for Thomas’s ignorance and honesty and for the magnificent reply it elicits from Jesus. Jesus is the way to the Father, the truth itself, and the life himself, and to know Jesus is to know the Father too. He is the way because through him we have access to the Father. He is the truth because he is the teacher of the truth about the Father and his love for us. He is the life – eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent (17,3). Some of the ancient saints said that the way leads to the truth and life. Others said the way and the truth lead to life – eternal life in heaven. The fact that the “way” is mentioned in Vs 4,5, 6, while “the truth and the life” are only mentioned once, (v6), and that Jesus adds “No one can come to the Father except through me, ” seems to give “way” the primary emphasis. As a result, some conclude that Jesus is the way because he is the truth and life.
Philip doesn’t get the message. He wants to see the Father. He wants a theophany, a revelation of God like Moses had on Sinai. Jesus implies that they already have had it. He asserts that to have seen him is to have seen the Father. He is in the Father and the Father is in him. His words are those of the Father and his works are done by the Father living in him.
Whoever believes in Jesus will perform greater works than he does. The Father will enable them to do, in the Son’s name, works manifesting his glory. They will have power over sin (20,21-22) and he will give them the Paraclete ,(16,7-11), who will enable them to do these greater works in post- resurrection times. Their works will be greater in extent than Jesus’ works because theirs will spread to all nations and down the ages. Each of us will make our contribution to those greater works.
This gospel text, often used at Funeral Masses, affirms clearly the reality and hope of the after-life for believers. The” many mansions” in the Father’s house emphasise that life with God and Jesus awaits all who try to follow the way Jesus maps out for us, who live the truth he offers us, and desire the life which only he can give.
The first two lines in today’s gospel as well as comforting his disciples in their worries speak to us too, and especially King Charles who assumes new responsibilities – “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still and trust in me” – Jesus.
Father Geoff O’Grady