Fr. Frank Majka, SJ – The Bridge

Where Is the One We Seek: Sixth Week

“I am in the Father, you are in me and I am in you.” (John 14) No wonder John is known as the most mystical of the gospel writers. Here the Jesus whom John writes about tells his disciples: If you want to find me, you will find me not only in the Father, you will also find me in you (plural) who follow me and are my friends.

Notice the implication that those who seek Christ should be able to see him with and in us. Sadly, however, we know that as individuals and as churches we often make it hard for others and even ourselves to recognize Jesus in us because of our distrust, lack of mutual respect and unwillingness to forgive. The fact is, we often keep poorly Jesus’ commandment and expectation for us: Love each other.

That doesn’t take away the fact that Jesus is truly in us. We have his words to assure us that he is. But I think we will find that he’s not in us in a passive way. Rather, he is at work in us, helping us give up our suspicions and dislikes of each other and our lack of love. He works in us to free us from all those sins and failings which keep him and his message from being clearly visible in us.

And as his work in us continues, we can trust it will be easier for us to see that we truly are in him and he is in us — and easier for others to see it, too.