Ready to Go?

A week ago we heard of an encounter Jesus had with the Pharisees.

They think they know who he is.

They think they know where he’s from.

And they think he can’t be the messiah 
because he’s not from Bethlehem.

Jesus tells them that they don’t know who he is.

He says that when he is lifted up then they will realize who he is.

He tells them that he is in fact God.

He calls himself – I AM.

They try to stone him for his blaspheme.

And he tells them he’s going away where they can’t follow him.

We’re not surprised to hear that many of the Pharisees didn’t realize who he was.

But today’s Gospel suggests that even the apostles didn’t fully realize who he was.

I’m stressing the word realize here,

And suggesting that it is something beyond a stated belief.

Yes, the apostles said they believed he was the messiah – the Son of God.

Jesus had praised Peter for that confession of faith.

But how deep was that faith?

Did it reach the level of realization?

Not absolute knowledge of course,

But that deeper level of firm conviction and understanding.

Judas seems to have lacked even a tentative faith.

How could he so callously betray Jesus if he believed that Jesus was God?

Peter surely had faith.

But even he must not have fully realized that Jesus was God.

If he had a deep, firm conviction and understanding that Jesus was God,

How would he be able to deny him?

How could anyone with a strong faith betray or deny the all-powerful God?

You would think that if love wouldn’t stop them, fear would.

But fear is at work on many levels.

And clearly fear played a big role in Peter’s denials.

Fear of certain, immediate and severe punishment by the Jews

Seems to have been enough to overcome Peter’s faith.

If he had that deep realization of who Jesus was,

His confidence and trust in God, or at least his fear of offending God,

Should have outweighed his fear of the Jews.

Jesus knew they didn’t fully realize who he was.

And he told them that, just as he had told the Pharisees,

He was about to go away where they couldn’t follow him.

But when Peter complained,

Jesus said you can’t join me now, but you can join me later.

Where was Jesus going?

He was going to his passion and death.

Somewhere the apostles couldn’t muster the courage to go.

He was going back to his Father in Heaven, somewhere that was not yet open to them.

He was going to be raised up so that all could realize who he was.

Raised up on the Cross and raised up in the Resurrection.

He was going to remain in Spirit for his Church.

They were needed to remain in the flesh to spread the Good News.

Indeed, none of the disciples were yet ready or able to go with him.

But as he said, they could join him later.

And they did.

Once he had opened the gates of Heaven.

And once they had the full realization of who he was.

Once they had the strength and courage and trust that flowed from that realization.

They followed.

We all have faith or we wouldn’t be reflecting on the Gospel.

Faith is a gift, and greater faith is a greater gift.

It's a gift that benefits us in this life, here and now.

As our faith in our all-powerful, all-merciful God increases,

Life's greatest pains and worries grow smaller and smaller.

So, like the apostles, each of us wants to grow to that full realization

That Jesus is indeed God, and that all he told us is true.

As we come closer and closer to that full realization,

We come closer and closer to joining him where he is.

Tuesday of Holy Week

Jn 13:21-38      Read this Scripture @usccb.org