Later this year will mark the 25th year that I have been teaching at Creighton University. I have spent my entire career, and adult life for that matter, at Creighton teaching students about scientific principles that are mostly related to health topics. And over the past 25 years, I have been frequently reminded (mostly by mainstream media) that science and religion are at odds with one another. Maybe it was my upbringing, or maybe it was my professional formation at Creighton, but the so-called conflict between science and religion never really made much sense to me. They both seemed to coexist quite nicely. During the early stages of my academic career, I felt naive and too inexperienced to know why others put these two important parts of my life at odds with one another. But now that I am working toward the second half of my life and the later stages of my career, it seems a bit clearer with my own perceptions being confirmed by both science and religion.

As I read through the gospel from John today, I noticed one particular part that grabbed my attention. Jesus emphasizes to his disciples that they should be at peace and not let their hearts be troubled (translation…don’t worry or be anxious) because he knows that they (and we) will have difficulty with what he is about to remind them of. He says, “I am going away, and I will come back to you.” How wonderful. It reminds me of what parents tell their young children when they leave for work in the morning as they drop them off at daycare. It is such a comforting and nurturing act of compassion.

This part of the gospel held my attention because it reminded me of the scientific Law of Conservation of Mass. This principle states that our world (and the entire cosmos – including us) is made up of matter. Further, it explains that matter is constantly changing into new forms. But with each change, nothing is ever lost – it just transforms into something new as it retains its core essence. A common example used to explain this principle is water, where it can exist as a liquid, gas, or solid. But no matter which state it exists in, the essence is always the same, and nothing is lost in the transformation.

I think this is what Jesus was saying to his disciples (and to us). Nothing was lost when he died on the cross – rather, he was transformed. And, nothing will be lost when his physical presence leaves from earth…”I am going away and I will come back to you.” There is a “conservation” of sorts. The essence of Jesus is still present – just transformed. Therefore, there is no need to worry or be anxious.

The patterns that exist in the science of our natural world, such as life-death-transformation, particularly with consideration of the Law of Conservation of Mass, seem to be constant reminders of how science and religion can not only coexist but, in fact, tell the same story. I think science clearly shows us that God is not something separate from us and “out there” for us to meet when we physically die from this world. But actually, God is “in here” and everywhere for us to experience now. This is the great rejoicing of the Easter resurrection/transformation of Jesus.