The passage in today’s gospel is taken from the first of three farewell speeches pronounced by Jesus at the Last Supper. Jesus today speaks of the dwelling places that have been prepared for us. The entrance to this dwelling place is Jesus himself. Thomas the Apostle asks Jesus for the way to reach him. When we accept the person of Christ and his teaching—we have accepted the way. Jesus is the Way to the Father.
Tolle et legge! “Take up and read!” St. Jerome teaches that to be ignorant of the scriptures is to be ignorant of Christ. One chapter each day would take us less than a month to finish reading one Gospel prayerfully. Responding to the Gospels in faith ultimately leads to that heavenly dwelling that has been prepared for us.
“There are many places in my Father’s House”, says Jesus. But this House of the Father is not a place where the Lord will take us after our death, nor is it a faraway place. This house is not paradise but the Christian community – the Church. In his Church, Jesus has prepared a place for everyone who agrees to follow Jesus’ “way”.
His Church is where he lives today – his Father’s house. He promises to take us to his Church so that we can be together with him, where he is. The house has many places which refer to the many services and tasks that need to be carried out there. The “many places” are nothing but the “various ministries” of the Church and the many gifts received from God.
Many people in their lives echo Philip’s request: “Show us the Father.” Since God in himself is invisible and unseen, it is not unusual to hear similar questions: “What is God like?” The truth of the matter is that for us Christians, this question has already been answered. God is like Jesus. To know the person and teaching of Jesus is to know God.
When Christians act Christ-like, they also reveal to us the face of the Father in different ways. The friend by our side in times of distress, the person who stays by our bedside in times of illness, and the one who forgives and does not condemn us when we make a grave mistake – they all reveal the merciful face of the Father. In the scriptures and our personal experience, there are countless ways through which we are being shown the Father.
Father Josekutty Mathew CMF
