Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: In our Gospel today we get another glimpse of the disciples trying to understand Jesus. I find these glimpses helpful because they help us see the human side of Jesus also. We see his patience and his love for them.
 
Jesus’ friends were human, at times they were confused, puzzled and at other times they were ready to believe. Today Jesus tells them to not let their hearts be troubled, have faith because he has a place for them. They know the way. But Thomas and Philip are not so sure. Perhaps, their hearts are troubled by the world around them and their minds are having a hard time catching up. They don’t realize that in knowing Jesus they are already on the way. In following Jesus, they are assured of the truth and being a friend of Jesus they share his life.
 
Like Jesus’ disciples, we are called to have faith, to trust, to believe. However, having faith, trusting, believing is just the beginning. We have to live our faith every day. Yes, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. But we have to believe, to live and at times, the world makes if difficult and we find ourselves just like Thomas and Philip. We want Jesus to spell it out We want Jesus to just give us a clue, give us a little something so that we can be sure.
 
Jesus has shown the way. If we believe and follow the way, we are to love our neighbor. We are to walk on the right path and it is not always easy. We know the right way but often we look for a detour, a shortcut, an easier way because it seems to be too difficult. However, there are no shortcuts. To quote the fictional President Andrew Shepherd from the movie The American President, “America isn’t easy. America is advanced citizenship. You have got to want it bad because it is going to put up a fight.”
 
Follow Jesus, being a Christian, a Catholic isn’t easy. It is advanced citizenship in the Reign of God, it is advanced discipleship. You have got to want it bad, to have faith, to believe because the world, culture, people around you, the journey of life is going to put up a fight. However, if we have faith, trust, believe and live we will find the way, the truth and the life because Jesus is always with us and will never leave us to face the struggles of life alone!
 
Have a blessed Sunday everyone and don’t forget to give God a little time today!