Today’s gospel is a familiar one. Jesus is having his final meal with his disciples. Knowing his death is near, he is 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 and how. They want directions and destinations spelled out; some tangible sign of God’s identity. And to this Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life” 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 due to conflict in a relationship, weighty decisions to make, or simply anxious about an unknown future...our desire for clarity and security is so strong we reach for the quickest answer and the easiest solution. We want the safety of having control, the security that comes with knowing exactly what will happen and what we 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, we need reminders just as the disciples did.  We need to hear these words frequently. “My dear friend, 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.”

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. May we, too, be his witnesses, proclaiming the good news.