Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
John 14: 1-6
Jesus Consoles Us, Always

During the Easter Octave, we are reminded of the ongoing presence of Jesus in our lives, even though He has ascended to the Father. The Gospel passage from today, part of the Farewell Discourse at the Last Supper, captures the essence of Jesus’ final words to His disciples. In this moment, He is preparing them for His departure, offering consolation, love, and reassurance before His death. Just as a final Will only takes effect after death, so too do these words take on their deepest meaning in light of the Resurrection. Easter is the time to reflect on these teachings and understand their significance for us today.

The Farewell Discourse in John’s Gospel follows a pattern similar to the speeches given by Moses in the Book of Deuteronomy. John writes to help his community understand the meaning of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and to remind them of the closeness of God despite the absence of Jesus’ physical presence. For those early Christians, who had lived decades without the visible presence of Jesus, this discourse was an encouragement to continue in faith.

Pope Francis beautifully points out that Jesus’ words in this passage are a deep consolation: “I am here, with you.” He promises to return to take them to be with Him forever, just as a spouse reassures their partner when separated by distance. John writes to remind us that the way to experience God’s consolation is through faith, trust, and surrender to His love.

Though it is difficult to accept God’s comfort in times of struggle, we are called to remain hopeful. During this Easter Octave, may we open our hearts to God’s tender consolation, trusting that He is always with us, guiding us through every trial with His love.

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