The WORD in Other Words by Fr Jimmy Sales SVD (Philippines)

Monday 7th Week of Easter

In today’s Gospel the disciples expressed their belief in Jesus because they were able to understand that he was from God. This understanding was attained because Jesus was talking to them in plain language and not in any figure of speech (John 16:29). Here we can see the importance of understanding when it comes to faith. The ability of the disciples to understand Jesus’ words ignited the faith in them, believing that Jesus was from God.

But Jesus wanted the disciples to bring their faith unto a higher level. Faith based on the intellect is not an end in itself, but “owning up” what we understand is what makes our faith a relational reality. Faith becomes a personal relationship with Christ if his teachings become the guiding principles of our life, and his mission becomes our mission.

When Jesus said “Behold the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone” (John 16:32), I felt like I was being warned that if my faith was stuck at the level of the intellect alone, time would come when I would be living him alone.

– Fr. Jimmy D. Sales, SVD (USC, Cebu City)