5th Sunday of Easter

Have you noticed how the disciples in the New Testament are not super heroes? Frequently, fortunately for us, they get it wrong, misunderstand Jesus, clash among themselves and even more fortunately, ask questions which we would have asked had we been there at the time. If this was a series of myths, propaganda and make believe surely the followers of Jesus would have been shown in a much better light?! In the First Reading we hear of tension in the community: "... the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews" (Acts 6: 1) and Church leaders feeling overloaded: "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables." (Acts 6: 2) - sounds familiar? In the Gospel Thomas plaintively says to Jesus: "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" (Jn 14: 5) and Philip tries to resolve his doubts: "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." (Jn 14: 8) Again, have we not all be in that space? Poor Jesus! He wearily replies: "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?" (Jn 14: 9) Two thousand years on and would Jesus say the same thing to us as we struggle to come to terms with the challenges of our time as well as our own lack of faith? In a time of crisis and uncertainty we need to be reminded not just who Jesus is: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (Jn 14: 9) but also who we are: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people" (1 Pet 2: 9) and the mission that has been entrusted to us by God: Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Go through Jesus Christ." (1 Pet 2: 5) As we emerge from the Covid-19 restrictions let us be renewed in our determination to give witness to our faith and the joy it brings us and holds out to others. As we await the great feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost, bringing with them the promise of the Holy Spirit, we can be filled with gratitude and hope. The promises of the Lord are true and his power real: "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." (Jn 14: 12)