Knowing Our Destination
April 24, 2005 The Fifth Sunday of Easter (A) - White
First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33
"Lord, let your mercy be on us as we place our trust in you."
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9
Gospel: John 14:1-12
"Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?"
Our gospel for this Sunday focuses on Jesus’ discourse with his apostles at the Last Supper table. Jesus will leave them physically in a matter of hours. But Jesus will stay with them in spirit. The apostles wanted to know where Jesus will go so that they too may follow him. But they have to understand that Jesus’ time to go back to the Father has already come. But for Jesus, he will stay with them in their hearts forever. Jesus makes their hearts calm when he tells them that he is the Way, the Truth and the Life. This is a very poetical statement Jesus made. Jesus as the Way will lead them to the Father, preparing a place for them in heaven as he promised. Jesus as the Truth will speak through them, prefiguring their importance in the growth of the Church. Jesus as the Life will restore everything in them through his Paschal Mystery-his passion, death and resurrection. He will change their hearts and make them grow in his love through the Holy Spirit especially when he’s not physically with them anymore.
This is seen clearly in the recent events in our Church. The Most Holy Father, John Paul II, who passed away, left the Church with his message of tender care and love. He did leave us physically but he’s always present spiritually. We were orphans then. We have no leader. Then came the time wherein the Cardinals have to break the Papal Interregnum and enthrone a new leader to the Seat of Peter. Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, worked hard during this sacred event. Jesus opened the minds of the Cardinal Electors and showed them the WAY to the Father. They elected the Most Reverend Cardinal Ratzinger for the Papal Seat. In return, Jesus spoke the TRUTH through Cardinal Ratzinger when he accepted his canonical election as Pontiff of the Church. And now, Jesus is preparing Cardinal Ratzinger, now called Pope Bendict XVI, to transform our lives and make us live in the LIFE of Jesus. With the election of Benedict XVI, we are no longer orphans but we are once again living in the warmth of the embrace of a leader which will lead us to the Father.
In our life today, we sometimes do not know where to go. We also have a hard time finding Jesus in our lives. We should always remember that Jesus works in mysterious ways. Let us make ourselves agents of prayer. Prayer is the most effective way to contact Christ. For in prayer, we will see and feel Jesus’ presence in us. And when we see Jesus, he will surely guide us to where we are supposed to go. And time will coem that he will accompany us to the place he prepared for us in heaven. Amen.
Living as Christians
Prayer is the most effective way to contact Christ. Find time each day to pray and contact Christ. Pray anytime, anywhere. He is just waiting for you!
