Gospel: John 16: 29-33
Today Jesus asks his disciples - and us - the all important question: do we really believe? He's heard our professions of faith and bravado that are not dissimilar to those of Peter and the others. And he has seen them and us continually misunderstand his mission and identity. It is easy to believe on Palm Sunday, but where will we be on Good Friday? What will our response be to the resurrection of Jesus?
Is our faith really in God, or is it really faith in a particular cultural setting or set of circumstances we need for ourselves? Is our faith in God, or are we continually following personalities and ideologues of politics and religion? Is our faith really in God, or is it really all about ourselves - our status, position, the esteem of others, and the security of human structures of our own making?
If we really believe in God, we will be as welcoming and open to others as Jesus was in his ministry. We would exclude no one and not create institutions of mutual admiration that are just shrines to ourselves. We would walk with the vulnerable and not concern ourselves with the opinion of the rich and powerful. We would recognize our status as sinners in need of God's mercy and in need of showing mercy to others. Today we confront this hard question of Jesus - do we really believe?
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