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April 20, 2008 - 5th Sunday of Easter
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's
house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go
to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way
to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, 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. If you know me, you will know my
Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
-- John 4:1-7
Not to fall into stereotypes about men and asking for directions, but Thomas almost
asks Jesus how to get to the place Jesus is headed. I'm not sure if Jesus' answer made any
sense to Thomas, but he assures him that he is the way to God. In part of Jesus' last
words to his disciples before he is crucified, Jesus assures them that even though he will
soon leave, he prepares a way for them to follow.
Unbound by time or space Jesus is already in the future, calling us to follow. Jesus is
already present in tomorrow, next week, and in the next century. There is no place you
will go in the future where Jesus is not present, even in death. Do we really need to live
with such fear?
We pray: Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the
life. Give us grace to love one another, to follow in the way of his commandments, and to
share his risen life with all the world, Amen
Lessons for the 5th Sunday of Easter:
- Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
- Acts 7:55-60
- 1 Peter 2:2-10
- John 14:1-14
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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