REFLECTIONS TODAY The Greek mikron (“a little while”) refers to a brief period of time. This expression of Jesus, which appears only in John’s Gospel, is a veiled reference to his approaching death and resurrection. He would be quickly taken from the disciples by death. This event would...
REFLECTIONS TODAY When he comes, the Spirit of truth will reveal to the disciples “the things that are coming” (v 13)—not new revelations but the “new order of things” that will come with Jesus’ death and resurrection. The mystery of God has already been revealed by Jesus. The Holy...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In John, “sin” refers to the unbelief that Jesus encounters among the Jews; they do not believe in him. They reject his mission of “righteousness,” that is, of proclaiming God’s saving plan for men and women. This message includes judgment or “condemnation” of the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The novel (and film) To Kill a Mockingbird makes us appreciate an able and respected lawyer who would go to great lengths to defend a wrongly accused black man before a jury of white bigots in Alabama, U.S.A. Such was Atticus Finch as played by Gregory Peck. In the Gospel, Jesus...
REFLECTIONS TODAY First Reading • Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY “World” (Greek kosmos) is used in John’s Gospel with a variety of meaning. In the first place, it means the cosmos that was created by God. It is the totality of God’s creation: all things were created through the eternal Word in the beginning. It may also refer to the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In his apostolic letter Patris Corde, Pope Francis presents St. Joseph as a working father: “St. Joseph was a carpenter who earned an honest living to provide for his family. From him, Jesus learned the value, the dignity and the joy of what it means to eat bread that is the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY To “remain” (Greek menein) with Jesus is an important Johannine theme. It does not only mean to stay with Jesus, but to “know” him, to have a close relationship with him. The intimate union between the Father and Jesus is the model for the disciples’ relationship with...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The three most important agricultural plants in Israel are the wheat or barley (for grain), the vine (for wine), and olive trees (for oil). Metaphorically, Israel is compared to the vine (Ps 80:9). It was brought out of Egypt (the Exodus story) and planted in the promised land. It...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Discipleship is a union of intimate love with Jesus, but love is not to be interpreted merely as emotion. It is also a matter of human decision and action. The one who truly loves Jesus is he who keeps his commandments, or better, the “new commandment” of love, and this is to...
REFLECTIONS TODAY John 14:1-12 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...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Greek term monai (singular, mone), here rendered as “dwelling places,” is related to the verb menein, which means “to stay, remain, or abide with.” By mone, John refers to the place (state or situation) where the disciples can abide with the Father and with Jesus....
