top of page

Breaking Open the Word

Abstract Brown Texture

Today’s gospel is at the beginning of the lengthy last supper discourses in John, a true theological treasure chest. In this section at the beginning, he is preparing them for his departure from the life they had known with him in community and the beginning of what will follow. He tells them he will be going to “his father’s house” and he describes it using temple imagery which of course also has “many rooms”. He makes it clear that they will have special places prepared for them by the Lord and that he will return to bring them to these places. The apostles don’t understand what he means and when Thomas asks him to explain, Jesus responds with the timeless “I am the way and the truth and the life”. This is reminiscent of what Jesus says to Martha earlier in the raising of Lazarus in John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies will live”. In both instances he is evoking his identity as the great I AM, as given to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). Jesus doesn’t just teach the way, the truth and the life; Jesus IS the way the truth and the life. He is revealing aspects of his identity as God incarnate. This also has strong sacramental implications. Through Christ, especially in the Eucharist and the life of grace, believers share in His divine life.

He then says that “no one comes to the father except through me”. The disciples still do not comprehend. When Phillips asks him to show them the Father, Jesus makes clear that he and the Father are one. He even expresses a bit of frustration at their inability to see this in the time that they had lived together and through all they had seen with him in his ministry. As elsewhere in the John (John 5:36, 10:25), he appeals to the miracles as evidence of his identity, not merely as displays of his divine power.

May 3 - 5th Sunday of Easter

Abstract Brown Texture

Today’s passage, like last Sunday’s, is taken from the Last Supper discourse. Jesus speaks again of his leaving and promises the Holy Spirit as our Advocate. This farewell discourse is used today in view of the coming feasts of Ascension and Pentecost. The function of the Spirit is to continue the mission of Jesus. The Spirit is another Advocate, who like Jesus, speaks the truth. The Greek word John uses to refer to God’s Holy Spirit is paraclete. The word in Latin is advocate. The final lines remind us that loving Jesus means keeping his commands and invites us to embrace the love of Jesus and the Father.

May 10 - 6th Sunday of Easter

Abstract Brown Texture

In our Gospel, Matthew has the disciples meet the risen Lord, for the first time, on a mountain top. The mountain is the closest place to heaven on earth. When people climbed a mountain in scripture, they desired to encounter God. On the mountain top, God would reveal Himself and His will. The mountain symbolized the place of teaching, revelation, and mission.

When the disciples encountered the Risen Lord, they worshiped Him, but some doubted what they were seeing. Jesus then approached His followers and announced a command (like a royal decree) in three parts. First, He declared the obvious; He had the power of God (28:18). Second, He gave His disciples the command to teach and baptize in the name of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (28:19.) Finally, He insured their success by promising His presence; when they spoke or acted, the disciples did it with the power of God (28:20).

Matthew 28:19-20 is called "The Great Commission." In this passage, Jesus defined the scope of the mission He gave His disciples in every generation and the formula for Christian Baptism "in the name (singular) of God the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Jesus sent His followers out with a command, make disciples wherever they traveled. How? By baptizing in God's powerful name. Ancient people also chose names carefully. They believed a person's name defined their strength of character. In 28:19, Jesus revealed the inner power of God in three names. The three were listed together (expressing the unity of God) and as equals (expressing the all-powerful nature of each). When believers were baptized in the name of the Trinity, they became intimate with all that God was: God above them (Father), God beside them (Son), and God within them (Holy Spirit). With God so close to the faithful, they became God's instruments.

May 17 - Ascension of the Lord

Abstract Brown Texture

It is Easter Sunday, Jesus has risen and appears to the disciples. We see, in the Gospel of John, Jesus entering through locked doors to calm his frightened disciples. After offering the disciples peace, Jesus presents them with the gift of the Holy Spirit – “Receive the Holy Spirit”. The Spirit is a gift to be received… and a gift to be given away. Jesus commands his disciples, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” There are no visible signs of the Holy Spirit – no driving wind, no tongues of fire – yet it is no less powerful. The gift of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel scene is quiet, personal, intimate. The power of this moment will become apparent in the months and years ahead. The disciples in this upper room will travel to such diverse places as Antioch, Rome, Greece, Turkey, Africa and India. Strengthened by the Spirit they will spread the Gospel and establish the universal Church.

May 24 - Pentecost

Abstract Brown Texture

This Gospel contains one of the most well-known verses in Christianity: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” You likely have seen the reference on signs at sporting events. The passage reveals the heart of the Gospel message. God’s motivation is love. The Father sends the Son not to condemn the world but to save it.

We do not know if the words in our gospel were spoken by Jesus or written by St. John the gospel writer for clarification that it is Jesus who exhibits the heavenly plan of the Father. Jesus came from heaven to earth to be sacrificed – neither Muhammed, nor Confucious, nor Budha, nor any other self proclaimed god came to be sacrificed. This gospel passage comes on the heels of the discussion Jesus has with Nicodemus that revolves around eternal life. In this passage, we see that it is Jesus that brings us that eternal life opportunity by His suffering and death; and Jesus brings the element of eternity in His own divinity.

Catholic teaching emphasizes several key truths here: salvation is a gift of God’s love; Jesus is truly the eternally divine and the Son of God; faith in Christ opens the way to eternal life for those who believe and act; and condemnation results from rejecting God’s offer of salvation.

The gospel reflects the Trinity in the expression that God the Father sends His Son, and then later in John’s gospel we will see that John explains it is the Holy Spirit who brings believers to eternal life by avoiding condemnation. We see the love relationship between the Father and the Son in the passage, and that love between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit.

May 31 - Most Holy Trinity

bottom of page