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  Saturday – 4 th Week of Easter Gospel – John 14:7-14 I Just Don’t Understand Church of St. Catherine, Nazareth We hear a lot about “knowing” in today’s Gospel.   “If you know me, you know also the Father.”   It’s a relatively simple word but too often misunderstood. We pass someone on the street and we tell our spouse “I know that guy”.   Really?   How well do you know him?   You mean you recognize him?   You know his name?   His likes and dislikes?   His favorite food or sports team?   His hobbies?   What do you mean “you know him?” Most languages have more than one word for the concept of “knowing”.   Latin has ‘scio’ and ‘cognosco’.   French has “savoir” and “connaitre”.   And they mean something completely different.   It’s the difference between being familiar with something and really undertstanding something.   For example, I flip a light switch.   I know the light goes on.   For...
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  Friday – 4 th Week of Easter Gospel – John 14:1-6 I Don’t Need No Stinking Map My Car! Like any good husband, I prefer to be the driver and that also means I ‘know’ where we are going all the time.   Who needs a map?   Who needs directions?   I got this!   I think I inherited it from my dad.   He always got us there but not always very quickly.   My mom would complain – why is it taking so long?   My dad would respond – we’re taking the scenic route!   That’s code for – I’m being stubborn! We like to think we don’t need any help; we can do this on our own.   We know the way to go and we will get there – eventually!   So it’s rather refreshing to hear Thomas in today’s Gospel say that he doesn’t know the way.   Maybe he was the backseat driver?   But Jesus gently reminds them that He is the way.   The way to heaven, to eternal life, is through our belief in Jesus! The problem remains – we are still very stub...
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  Thursday - 4 th Week of Easter Gospel – John13:16-20 Bath Time! Jordan River, Caesarea Philippi Memories!   I remember back when I was just a wee one, that my mom was occasionally give us a bath in the kitchen sink. And I remember being able to look out the window at Dad’s store and our yard!   And that also reminds me of the many times we would give our daughter Jaime a bath when she was just a baby.   But what sticks out in my mind is not so much where we bathed her but HOW!   I remember trying to be so very careful and gentle, with slow soft wipes of the cloth, never too rough or too hard.   It was all these tender touches that were always accompanied with smiles and giggles, with soothing words and baby talk.   It was never ever just a chore or a job to get done.   It was a ministry, of sorts, a ministry of love and compassion.   A labor of love!   A bonding of parent and child!   And I certainly didn’t mind if I got...
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