"Jesus said to Thomas, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father.'" Jn 14:6
Really knowing someone is hard work. It is not something that happens in a casual visit, nor can it be easily quantified or articulated. In many ways, knowing oneself and another is something we intuit, and more important, test regularly. How often have we heard people say: I thought I knew him, but his recent behavior is opening my eyes in a new way.
Jesus was not easy to know. He opened the eyes of some and confused many while he lived among us. Some thought he was trying to undermine the law. Others were convinced he was a minor and unimportant prophet and healer, but a few realized he was the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and they knew this because of his works. As Matthew's Gospel makes clear, Jesus came so that, "The blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." (Mt 11:5)
For those with eyes to see and hearts to understand, it was clear that Jesus had no other motive than to let people know he came from God to set the captives free, and to announce a time favor for all without a voice in the society. Though Jesus was explicit about his mission, even the apostles were slow to comprehend, believe and proclaim it. It took the power of the Spirit at Pentecost to free them from the fear that often paralyzed them. It is no different for us.
Today, be a disciple. Open your eyes, ears and heart to the Spirit living within and among us.
Does anyone really know you? Do you know and respect others?
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