FRIDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER MAY 8, 2020

MASS READINGS:

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 14:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.

You have faith in God; have faith also in me.

In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.

If there were not,

would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come back again and take you to myself,

so that where I am you also may be.

Where I am going you know the way.”

Thomas said to him,

“Master, 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.”

REFLECTION: " I will come back again and take you to myself,

so that where I am you also may be."

In Thomas Cole's paintings (1842) of "The Voyage of Life", ( Childhood, Youth, Manhood, Old Age) we see the different stages of our life and the presence of God in each phase. In the voyage of Old Age, we see the old man and the ever present guardian angel, watching but also greeting him as he looks toward eternal life.

How splendid when we arrive in that tattered boat with our tattered bodies, and recognize our guardian angel, who helps us put behind all our sins, missteps, failures, as we wait for the Lord to come get us. .We wait in faith.

Wearing out our welcome either with relatives or friends can be painful and embarrassing. Aware of this, we try to judge the situation and leave before the host tires of us. But God will never tire of us. Jesus has promised us that He will go and prepare a dwelling place for us, "I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be."

Jesus wants all of us in His eternal home. It is our final home where we can find neverending joy, peace, knowledge and love. Jesus reminds us that He will never tire of us and that we will not wear out our welcome. Pursuing this happiness will take hard work and perseverance. We are aware of the different phases of our voyage of life. In faith and trust in His promises, we seek out a more productive prayer life, more corporal works of mercy and sharing His truth to as many people as we can.

God Bless You. .