Sunday, March 5, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading 
John 14:1–14

“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. (NRSV)

Reflection

Do you remember being prompted as a child to “say the magic word!” upon uttering a request that lacked the word please? Perhaps for a brand-new toy, or a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone, or for permission to attend a backyard sleepover—you were so overcome with desperation for the fulfillment of your request that you forgot your manners!

Too often when we encounter this passage from John’s Gospel, we treat the precious name of Jesus as if it were simply a matter of uttering “the magic word”; that when Jesus declares “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it,” Jesus positions himself to respond to our every whim exactly as we’d instructed. The audacity!

Contrary to collective imagination, Jesus is not our “rabbit out of the hat.” Jesus is our hope and strength, and the very essence of the power of God, and when we call upon the mighty name of Jesus, he responds by equipping us with the power of righteousness—a righteousness that compels us to transform each moment of our own lives and our relationships, communities, systems, and structures—to live into the wholeness of beloved community, to the glory of the one whom Jesus names as the Father.

There are many challenges to our capacities to live righteously and many dangers that spark real fears. As Jesus promised to never leave us or forsake us, God invites us to center our hearts in Jesus, who urges us with compassion, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Prayer

God of Love and Belonging, help us to find within ourselves the essence of faith and trust, that in so doing we may find the strength to overcome any obstacle, through the power of the bold name of Jesus. Amen.

Written by Nancy Benson-Nicol, Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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