God does not convince us with lies

Rev. Fr. Achilleus Ile Adole CSSp.

Today we shall focus on the words of Jesus in the gospel. These words can be divided into two parts that we may have a better understanding of the message it carries.

The first part of the words of Jesus offers us hope and calls us to believe in the plans of God for us. He said, "...Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?...."

Jesus knows that our hearts are troubled by different challenges that we face each day, He knows that our hearts are troubled by the uncertainties of life. He knows our difficulties. He knows our worries. He knows our sufferings. He knows what we hunger and thirst for. He knows that we are not convenient with some situations in our lives, and He knows the best for us, that is why he tells us not to be worried, that he is preparing a better place for us.

The words that Jesus spoke to us are true and never lies for he is the God of truth and not lies, that is why he said that there are many mansions in his father's house and if it were not so, he would have told us. Jesus does not deceive us when he makes promises to us. He only wants us to build a strong faith without doubt in him.

The second part of the words of Jesus calls us to faith and followership. He said to Thomas, "... I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the’ Father, but by me...." Jesus is the way because it is through him that we can get to the father. It is by abiding by his teachings and following the example of the life of love he lived that we could gain a place in the many rooms in his father's house. He is the truth because he does not lie like others who came before him to steal, kill and to destroy. And he is the life because only him can transform us from our old ways and give us newness of life especially through baptism and the other sacraments he gave to the church as his parting gifts.

St. Joesph whom we celebrate today is a perfect example of one who had faith and trusted in the plans of God entirely without any doubts and questions and even when the angel visited him in a dream and told him about the child Jesus, he aligned himself to the plan of God.

We too are called to continue to place our hope in God, to believe Him and the plans He has for us, and as we do that may our trust, our hope, and our faith in Him yield better results for us in life, through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Peace be with you