Thầy đã được trao toàn quyền trên trời dưới đất.

Jesus returned to the right hand of the Father, not to leave us but to lead us all the way to heaven. The great paradox is because he has ascended, he is able to remain with us in a profound new way.

Lạy Cha, xin Cha tôn vinh Con Cha.

In today’s Gospel, a passage known as the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus in John 17, Jesus talks about the work the Father gave him to do. We might ask, “Exactly what is his work?” And many Christians probably would answer, “Dying on the Cross for the salvation of humanity.” But as we unpack this reading, it becomes apparent that Jesus had something more in mind.

Thầy sẽ xin Chúa Cha và Người sẽ ban cho anh em một Đấng Bảo Trợ khác.

While our salvation was won by Jesus’s Death, our lives in Christ are not completely fulfilled until we receive the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, that Jesus promised to send us. That Spirit of truth is the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. It is only through the Spirit that we are able to enter into the fullness of communion with the Father and the Son and embrace the Good News of the Gospel in our daily lives.

Chính Thầy là con đường, là sự thật và là sự sống.

Most of us have been either literally or figuratively lost at some time, not knowing which way to go, and feeling a surge of fear and panic. The Apostles in today’s Gospel were feeling lost, because Jesus had just told them he was going to leave them in order to be crucified and die. Thomas said what must have been in all their hearts: “We do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus’s answer might have been confusing. He didn’t give instructions or directions. Instead he told them that he himself was the direction. He said that he was the way, the truth, and the life.

Tôi là cửa cho chiên ra vào.

We like the idea of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, but we seldom like the idea of being sheep—people who blindly follow anyone or anything. However, that’s not what sheep and shepherds are like in real life.