“Do not be troubled”
I have always found the words in this Sunday’s Gospel to be some of the most comforting and reassuring. Jesus tells his disciples not to be troubled. He is going away but promises to prepare a place for them where he is going. In response to Thomas’ concern that he did not know where Jesus was going, much less how to get there, Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
What wonderful words! They express so many things: that we are not to be scared; that we are not going to be abandoned; that we have a wonderful future ahead of us … All we have to do is to keep trusting. Trust in God opens up our minds to the larger picture of life. Our life on Earth is but a journey to an eternal destination. We come from God and must return to God, and Jesus shows us the way to get there. Not only does he show us the way, he provides food for the journey.
Let’s be honest. It’s hard not to feel troubled given our current situation. The coronavirus pandemic has claimed many lives and it continues to do so. We are still under a lockdown, our freedom to move very much restricted. With so much uncertainty and much to fear, we can relate to the disciples in this Sunday’s Gospel. Their lives are changing with great challenges ahead but Jesus is asking them to master their fears. And they did. They went on not only to spread the Gospel but to die for it as well. We too must conquer our fears through trusting in the Lord. These words from a homily I once heard are worth reflecting on: “When we have no clues, we must remember that God who guides us is omniscient or all wise. When we run out of time, we must remember that God is omnipresent or all time is in His hand. When we are weak, we must remember that God is omnipotent or all power belongs to Him.”