Gospel – John 14:1-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.”
Thomas said to him,
“Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.”
Reflection on Sunday Gospel
Let us remember we are in the holy presence of God…
For a moment, re-read those words above out loud, take pause, and reflect.
Let Us Remember We Are in the Holy Presence of God.
Recited before class and prayer, sporting events and extracurricular activities, for graduates, especially of our secondary schools, they will have made that call to focus on God, close to 4,000 times as Lasallian students. In light of John’s Gospel we are reminded that we truly are and always will be in His Holy presence.
No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
As Lasallians, educators and students alike, we are called to recognize Jesus in the other. If we are to truly remember that we are in God’s holy presence, we must first recognize Jesus in our brothers and sisters. Seeing and respecting the dignity and sacredness of those around us, we come to know Jesus, and hope to know the Father’s holy presence.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do…
As Lasallians, we are called to be evangelists. By our words, and more importantly, by our works, does Jesus live in our hearts, as we so often close our Lasallian prayers. To truly believe in God, is to be the embodiment of His Son in our everyday interactions, and be the extension of Him. Whether the countless service hours, exhausting advocacy efforts, or simplest kindness, Jesus should be recognized by others in the heart of any Lasallian.
As the school year winds down, especially for our graduates, “do not let your hearts be troubled” as you head out into the world. For if “you have faith in God; have faith also in [Jesus],” for he lives in your heart, and in the hearts of your brothers and sisters in Christ. As you are blessed to wake each day, ready to face new opportunities and challenges, for a moment pause, recite, and reflect upon that simple call which you have prayed the last four years…
Let us remember we are in the holy presence of God…
St. John Baptist de La Salle … Pray for Us!
Live Jesus in our Hearts … Forever!
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