Today's Gospel

Greater Works Than Jesus?

Welcome to your daily gospel reflection where we are exploring the radical and relevant message of the life and teachings of Jesus. Today's gospel is from John 14: 7-14, "If you had known me, you would have known my father also. Henceforth, you know him and have seen him." And Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." And Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me?

The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me, or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, and the Father may be glorified in His Son's. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it."

What jumps out at you today? Two things jump out at me. One, Jesus says, "He who believes in me will also do the work." So he's talking about the great works he's been doing and how they are proof, to some extent, of who he is and who has sent him. He says, "He who believes in me will also do the works that I do and greater works than these will he do because I go to the Father." This is a massive claim, right? It's like, "Whoa, hold on a minute."

When you stack up all of Jesus' miracles, and then Jesus is here saying, "People who believe in me will do these things and will do even greater things." And I think there's a danger to say, "Well, hold on a minute, 2,000 years of Christianity, where are the greater things?" So let's talk about that. Greater things happen every Sunday when you go to mass. Every day, you can go to mass any day you want. Every time you experience the mass, the greater things. He's talking about greater things. It's happening right there.

Here you have the priest, a man touched by God, God working through him to transform simple bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ, the Eucharist, the bread of life that we can consume, that can transform us. These are the greater works. You go to confession, what happens? God forgives all that you've done, all of your mess, all of your wrongdoings, all of your transgressions, all of your missing the mark, all of your sins. God forgives you through this simple man, through this priest. The greater things are happening. The question is, are we aware of them? Then the other thing, I mean, you just got the one-two punch here. And then Jesus says, "Ask for anything and I will do it."

I left something out, didn't I? "In my name." Because we asked for a lot of things in our name. I remember as a kid, I'd ask for things from God. God, let me win this soccer match. In my name, right? Not in his name. And so that's the qualifier. What are you asking for in his name? And when's the last time you really asked for something in his name and gave him the opportunity to make good on that he says right here? Have an amazing day. Remember, Be Bold, Be Catholic.