April 20, 2008

    Fifth Sunday of Easter   ..

Please read

John 14:1-14

Read also

Acts 7:55-60

Psalm 31:1-5

Psalm 31:15-16

1 Peter 2:2-10

"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."

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied."

Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in  the Son.

If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

--- John  14:1-14

.   Heaven and Beyond   .

The Bible can sometimes be confusing.

Or maybe it’s Bible translations that confuse.

This passage, for instance.

Jesus is telling his friends about heaven.

“I go to prepare a place for you,” he says.

Well, now, is it “many mansions”?

Or is it “dwelling places”?

Or “many rooms”?

Depends on which version that your read.

And while we’re at it,

are there pearly gates and streets of gold?

And is it “up there” or “out there”?

Or where?

And then it dawns on me:

Heaven

is not a matter of geography

or living arrangements.

What really matters is that someone,

Someone has prepared the way. 

And my reservation is confirmed.

And one thing more:

Thomas, speaking for us all,

raises the question:

“How can we know the way?”

And Jesus, speaking to Thomas,

speaks also to us,

“I am the way,”

Now it all comes clear:

It’s not the living arrangements

or the geography

but the relationship that counts.

This Jesus,

who is with us now

in each moment

goes before us,

opening the way,

awaiting us,

embracing us to himself.

It’s heaven indeed!

But that’s not all, not yet.

As long as I am here,

I’ve got a job to do,

doing Jesus’ work.

Listen to what he said:

“Very truly, I tell you,

the one who believes in me

will also do the works that I do

and even greater works than these...”

For Jesus,

in the dynamic tension

between time and eternity,

heaven and earth,

releases an energy for good,

bringing the glory of God

into the life of humankind,

your life and mine.

So let’s just ask him,

and then go to work

and see what happens next.

--- rvc

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*** D I S C L A I M E R ***

The Weekly Lessons are based on the lectionary texts for the week – usually the Gospel lesson. They are not designed as a formal commentary.  Rather, they are the personal reflections and original compositions of The Relay Online editor, Rev. Robin Van Cleef, and offer a jumping off point, using the scriptures as triggers to thought, imagination, and (we hope) empowerment.  As you read them, let your own imagination play, and let the Spirit speak to you, leading you where it will.  The Gospel Lessons reflected on this site may not be copied, reproduced or otherwise manipulated elsewhere on the internet without the expressed consent of the author.  Please also note that while we're unable to quote Bible scripture on these pages, it is permissible to redirect our viewers to Bible passages using hyperlinks to web sites having that authority.  The Verse Of The Day and BibleGateway Search engine are the property on BibleGateway.com and are used here with their specific permission.

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