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Gospel: John 14: 1-6
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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Today’s Gospel passage comes from part of Jesus’ Last Supper discourse as he begins revealing to his disciples that this will be his final night on earth.
Their faith will be shaken. Their world will be turned upside down. Their Lord will be taken from their midst, soon placed in a tomb. Tomorrow will be dramatically different from today.
Yet he tells them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
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To be “troubled” in the sense that Jesus used it meant to be, “overwhelmed by the fear of death or some other grave evil.”
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Although dark hours are ahead, Jesus assures them, they can proceed in peace. The disciples are being challenged to believe – as sometimes we are – that God is stronger than the evil we face.
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What troubles my heart? When do I feel overwhelmed?
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In those moments, turn to the Lord, who whispers quietly, “Do not let your heart be troubled.”
The Lord will journey with us through every trial.
As Saint Paul once wrote, “No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
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May the God who opens otherwise impossible doors calm our hearts with peace.
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Image credits: (1) Revival Christian Fellowship (2) National Catholic Reporter (3) T.D. Jakes, Twitter