May 17, 2025

John 14:7-14

In this passage, Jesus speaks plainly, saying “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” He continues, “The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works…Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these.”  As in recent days, Jesus is telling us that he is one with the Father, and also that through contemplating Jesus, we can be one with the Father too. 

Jesus’ teaching is theological, proclaiming the inseparability of God the Father from the Son. At the same time, Jesus is modeling how to be a human being as is often the case. He is bearing witness to and modeling mystical experience: “The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.” How many mystics find themselves compelled to share the words spoken to them by the Holy Spirit? They do this even at great peril to their social standing or even their lives, such as for women saints in the Middle Ages who could be burned for heresy if any church leaders took offense. To a lesser extent, even in modern times, a mystic may feel compelled to share the words of Spirit, even at risk to their reputation. 

“Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me” is theologically true – we are all within the mind of God, and God is within us. Jesus in particular is One with the Father. Yet it is also mystically true: it is the way we human beings experience merging with God in prayer.  Amen.