John 14
We have been reading the Last Supper dialogue from St John’s gospel for some time during the Easter season. This Last Supper dialogue may sound impenetrable because it is packed with very profound theological statements. Moreover, there are lots of repetitions that confuse us to the point that we don’t know where we are reading. But when we read slowly and carefully, we find surprising statements that make us wonder if we have ever heard them before.
Today, during the dialogue, an apostle named Judas, not Judas Iscariot, asks Jesus, “Lord, what is this all about? Do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” This is an interesting question. Jesus is not going to reveal himself to the world? Isn’t it one of our missions to reveal Jesus to the world? What did Jesus say before the apostle asked?
Jesus said, “Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them will be one who loves me; and anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love him and show myself to him.” Here, Jesus is saying he will reveal himself to those who keep his commandments. Yes, Jesus qualifies to whom he will reveal himself – those who love him by keeping his commandments. Therefore, it is true as the apostle noticed that Jesus was not going to reveal himself indiscriminately to the world as big business corporations campaign their advertisements through all possible media outlets.
When I was ordained fresh from the seminary, I believed I could testify to Jesus. I thought all the theological, liturgical, and spiritual formation at the seminary equipped me with Jesus. But, not long after, I deeply realized I didn’t have personal knowledge of Jesus. It’s because I failed Jesus by my sins. My sins kept Jesus from showing himself to me. As long as I live in and with sins, Jesus could not live in and with me. Unless I daily repent and cleanse myself, there is not much chance for me to know Jesus.
The knowledge of Christ Jesus and God is not found in a catechetical or theological, or any kind of textbook. Because the knowledge of God is found in keeping God’s commandments. The Father and the Son reveal themselves to those who struggle to love them. The knowledge of God lives in a person who keeps God’s commandments and loves God.
As for myself, this poor sinner, I won’t be able to say I can keep Christ’s commandments perfectly any time soon. However, little by little, I experience Jesus when I try to keep his commandments. And I hope, one day, my love for Jesus becomes mature so that he may reveal his glorious face to me.
