From the responsorial psalm: “And now, O kings, give heed; take warning, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him; with trembling rejoice. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 14:1-6)
Thomas immediately expresses uncertainty about Jesus’ words. In this short dialogue between Thomas and Jesus, the way that Jesus refers to his Father’s house is difficult to envision as a physical place. Yet, Jesus reassures the disciples that it has many dwelling places. And he goes on to describe two more times how he will prepare a place for them. What kind of place heaven is seems beyond human comprehension, but Jesus leaves the disciples with no uncertainty as he responds with love to Thomas: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is the same Thomas who doubted the Lord’s resurrection. What the risen Lord said to Thomas then, he says to us now: “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
God, help me take to heart throughout the day the first words of Jesus from the Gospel: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” I am easily distracted and detect even remote, merely potential causes that might derail how I think things should go. Lord, how do I keep within me in the course of the day your steady hand in its unfolding? Just as I rightly plan to do my best in using your gift of time, let me learn to relinquish what I think is best when you make clear to me another way. Jesus, the way and the truth and the life, lead me!