In today’s Gospel from John 14:23-29, Jesus is preparing the disciples for His death.  They would certainly be confused and fearful at His words about leaving them.  You could imagine that they still see Jesus ‘the man” as the one who will save God’s people and a comprehension of something even greater would be difficult to grasp.  Take a moment and try to imagine the feeling the disciples would have been going through.  Think of a time in your life, your very first day of school perhaps, where you were forced to become more independent and recall the fear and anxiety that you felt.  After living with Jesus and seeing the works He has done in God’s name, they have come to believe in Him.  The idea that now He would be leaving would be terrifying and leave them feeling hopeless.

   Jesus begins to articulate more clearly to the disciples that it is not He “the man”, but God The Father who works through Him.  Jesus says, “Whoever loves Me will keep My word”…”yet the word you hear is not Mine but that of the Father who sent Me.” (JN 14:23-24)  Jesus adds, “If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.” (JN 14:28)  This speaks directly to Jesus’ humanity as in His divinity, He is equal to the Father.  Jesus is trying to make the disciples understand something much greater; to focus their attention to The Father.  Knowing their uncertainty, He tells them, “The Advocate, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” (JN 14:26)

   Let us recall today’s reading when we may be feeling uncertain and are perhaps living in fear of being separated from God, that we may call on The Holy Spirit to guide us so that we too may one day be, “going to The Father.”