Come to the Father

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhort us to hear the prompting of the Spirit to come to the Father as followers of the Way of Jesus.

The Way to the Father

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles continues Paul’s Address in the Synagogue.

* [13:31] The theme of the Galilean witnesses is a major one in the Gospel of Luke and in Acts and is used to signify the continuity between the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of the church and to guarantee the fidelity of the church’s teachings to the words of Jesus. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 13, n.d.)

Psalm 2 is God’s Promise to His Anointed.

* [Psalm 2] A royal Psalm. To rebellious kings (Ps 2:1–3) God responds vigorously (Ps 2:4–6). A speaker proclaims the divine decree (in the legal adoption language of the day), making the Israelite king the earthly representative of God (Ps 2:7–9) and warning kings to obey (Ps 2:10–11). The Psalm has a messianic meaning for the Church; the New Testament understands it of Christ (Acts 4:25–27; 13:33; Heb 1:5). (Psalms, PSALM 2, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares the Way to the Father.

* [14:1–31] Jesus’ departure and return. This section is a dialogue marked off by a literary inclusion in Jn 14:1, 27: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

* [14:1] You have faith: could also be imperative: “Have faith.”

* [14:3] Come back again: a rare Johannine reference to the parousia; cf. 1 Jn 2:28.

* [14:4] The way: here, of Jesus himself; also a designation of Christianity in Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.

* [14:6] The truth: in John, the divinely revealed reality of the Father manifested in the person and works of Jesus. The possession of truth confers knowledge and liberation from sin (Jn 8:32). (John, CHAPTER 14, n.d.)

Scott McClure comments that Jesus senses his disciples' hearts are heavy and knows the coming hours will be an incredible period of transition for them. He proclaims: Do not let your hearts be troubled. 

In my experience, this is easier said than done! And yet, here Jesus speaks as one who possesses a greater scope of view that gives him the confidence to convey this charge - like a parent comforting a child who is enduring something that, the parent knows, will come out alright. 

In our times of transition and uncertainty, let us trust in Jesus' words to his disciples. Let not our hearts be troubled, but instead let our hearts delight that a place is being prepared for us. (McClure, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “Walk by faith in the truth,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Persevere now in walking by faith in the truth, that you may succeed in coming at a definite and due time to the sight of the same truth. For as the apostle says, 'While staying here in the body, we are away from the Lord. For we are walking by faith, not by sight' (2 Corinthians 5:6-7). We are led to the direct sight and vision of the Father by Christian faith. That is why the Lord says, 'No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (excerpt from SERMON 12.5) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 14:1-6 comments that we can take Jesus’ words to Thomas as his answer to us as well: “I am the way” (John 14:6). If Jesus himself is the way—the path—then we can be confident that we’re on track when we are trying to follow the example he left for us.

Or think of how Jesus related to other people. He saw each of them, even his enemies, as children beloved by his heavenly Father. He saw through their selfishness or anger or envy and recognized the hurt they were carrying and their need to encounter God’s love. Is there someone that you have a hard time loving? You can follow Jesus’ way by remembering God’s love for them. Then you can ask the Spirit to make you more like Christ by softening your heart toward them.

How can we know the way? There is one simple answer to this question: Jesus is the way. Imitate him.

“Jesus, you are my way. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on you.” (Meditation on John 14:1-6, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Paul’s discourse in Acts on the history of Israel points to Jesus as the fulfillment of the Hebrew Testament. The lengthy Last Supper Discourse in John’s Gospel is likely a series of homilies. Friar Jude reminds us that our life in Christ is such that even if we die, we are still going to be alive.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Rev. Cameron Trimble, an author, pastor, and leader in the United Church of Christ. As a pilot, she honed her wisdom for navigating the turbulence of transitional times.

We must resist looking to the frameworks of the past to lead us into the future. Doing so is a way to pretend to control, to tighten our grip and reduce our cultural aerodynamic flexibility. Instead, perhaps we turn to ways of wisdom that cultivate intuition, patience, and ingenuity. We embrace the ways of a Mystic Wayfinder, one who purposefully gets lost in order to chart new ways forward. By getting lost and welcoming the reality that we do not have the answers or know the way forward, we enter a space of liminality and emergence. We are not attempting to fix “broken systems” but are, instead, summoning entirely new worlds….  

We do not have the answers today. We have the wondering. We have the gifts of being lost to guide us. We must now use the wisdom of our wounds, both caused and carried, as portals into new ways of becoming…. (Rohr, 2023)

When we are faced with moving ahead into an uncertain future, the Spirit invites us to follow Jesus to places and times prepared for us by the Father. 

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 13. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/13?26 

John, CHAPTER 14. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?1 

McClure, S. (2023, May 5). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/050523.html 

Meditation on John 14:1-6. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/05/05/672223/ 

Psalms, PSALM 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/2?0 

Rohr, R. (2023, May 5). Fly Loose — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/fly-loose-2023-05-05/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled! Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=may5