Gospel Reflection-"Do you now believe?"

By Winston Elliott III

John 16: 29 - 33
29 His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure! 30 Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question you; by this we believe that you came from God." 31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? 32 The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Father of Christ, all-seeing, hear our prayers; Look kindly on your servant’s solemn song. He turns his footsteps down a godly path, Who knows, while living, the ingenerate God, And Christ, the king who bans all mortal ills. Once, out of pity for our hard-pressed race, Freely conforming to the Father’s will, He changed his form, taking our mortal frame. Though he was God immortal, freeing us all. From Tartarus’s bondage by his blood. Come now, refresh this soul of yours with words—Pure, godly sayings from this sacred book; Gaze here upon the servants of your Truth Proclaiming life in voices echoing heaven! St Gregory the Theologian. (Gregory of Nazianzus, 168-169)

"Now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure." Are the disciples really turning the corner? Are they finally beginning to comprehend who Jesus truly is? Are they saying this in response to Jesus saying in 16 "A little while, and you will see me no more; again a little while and you will see me"? Is this speaking plainly? I'm not convinced that they truly understand any better who Jesus is at the Last Supper than they have at anytime during their three years with Jesus. The disciples go on to say: "Now we know that you know all things...by this we believe that you came from God." And yet just moments before they exclaim in verses 17 & 18 "what is this he says to us...what does he mean." They believe. But they need help with their unbelief. Don't we all? 

At this point in the story they must be mystified. Just seconds ago they made a strong statement of faith, "we know that you know all things...by this we believe that you came from God," and Jesus responds with:"Do you now believe?" This looks like the Jesus equivalent of "really?" And then it gets worse for our role models in faith. Jesus warns the disciples that things are  going to get very ugly. He tells them that "the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone." Not only will they run and hide but they will abandon Jesus. They will leave their friend, their teacher, who "came from God," behind. They will leave him alone. Do they really believe? How strong is their faith?

Thankfully Jesus does not leave the disciples, or us, in this state of unrest. First he explains that he is never alone "for the Father is with me."  Jesus has never left the community of love, the Blessed Trinity. With him in us and us in him we never have to be alone. Sometimes we, like the disciples, scatter to our homes. These homes are often full of distractions, pains, and troubles. He may be alluding to our "homes" in sin. The sins we turn to when we turn away from Jesus. But, what if we stay "home" with Jesus, in good times and bad?  Jesus answers this when he says: "I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace." He has come that we may have peace. He does not say that the world will be peaceful. He does not say you will not suffer or face trials and tribulations. No. He says: "In me you may have peace." We may have peace in him in a world that is never peaceful. Let us turn to him and find peace in a world of strife. No Jesus is not left alone. And neither are we. We are joined with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We are joined with the community of faithful believers. What is the important point to remember? "In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Lord, we thank you for we believe that you never leave us alone. That you are with us until the end of the age. Like your disciples we believe. Help us in  our unbelief. With your grace we may grow in faith and love. With your grace we may share your love with all creation. Father, Son and Holy Spirit thank you for showing us your community of love and for letting us join with you. Teach us to love as You love. Amen.


Mary, our Hope, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.