Today’s gospel is a familiar one. Jesus is having a final meal with his disciples, preparing them for the days to come when he will no longer be with them. In this scene, Judas has left and Jesus has just predicted Peter’s betrayal. Jesus can see their anxious faces and sense their doubts, so he addresses that directly “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” He assures them that he will be with them again. In offering encouragement, his words are not a vague hope for an unknown future, as if to say, “Don’t worry, it will all be okay.” Rather, he reminds them of who they are, to whom they belong and what they already know and have now - “you have faith in God, now have faith in me.” and “Where I am going, you know the way.”  Thomas, and later Philip, have understandable confusion and questions about where, how, who -- wanting to have directions and destinations spelled out, some tangible sign of God’s identity. And to this Jesus says, “I am the way,” and in the next verse, “you know me, you know my Father; from now on you do know him and have seen him.”

When we are confused, troubled and fearful...it may be conflict in a relationship, decisions to make, anxious about an unknown future...we tend to want answers to provide clarity. We want the when, where, how all spelled out. We want the safety of having control, the security that comes with knowing exactly what will happen and what I need to do to achieve a desired outcome. Today Jesus tells us our clarity, our security, our safety is only in relationship with him, and through him, with God. At these times we need to be still and listen for the voice of Jesus - whether in prayer or in the words of a faithful companion - reminding us, “hey, you know Jesus, you know the way, you know to whom you belong, so trust the process; trust that you will be led and given all you need.”

I am writing this the day before the funeral of Fr. Dick Hauser SJ, one of the most beloved members of Creighton’s community. Having received a diagnosis of inoperable cancer in February, he knew his time here was short. He died peacefully in his sleep on April 3. Three weeks before that, at his request, several of us met with him to prepare for an upcoming committee meeting, which he would ordinarily have chaired. As we finished our conversations and prepared to leave, he said in his usual cheery manner “Well, let me know how it goes, I’ll be here a few more weeks!” As if he was leaving on vacation! Clearly, he knew Jesus, he knew to whom he belonged, and knew where he was going. And it seems, not only where, but when!

Today we pray, not for a faith to be given us, but to recognize the faith that we have already been given, a faith that lives deep within our hearts, because we, too, know Jesus and have seen him. We know to whom we belong. But sometimes we need a reminder.