Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of John (14: 1-6) in which Jesus comforts his disciples saying “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”  Fr Paul says this Gospel reading is taken from the beginning of Jesus’ talks after the Last Supper. This gospel really is a classic speech by a departing leader, preparing his followers to carry on his mission after his departure. Jesus, as he is on the point of going to the Garden of Olives to prepare for his redeeming and tortured death, instructs his chosen disciples how they are to continue his work, and promises his presence in the Spirit to accompany them. It is inspiring that we should re-read these words as we prepare for the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost and prepare for the renewal of our own mission to the world.  The readings begin with a firm demand for faith in Jesus, which is the same as belief in the Father. Faith is not just an intellectual affirmation but includes trust, a confidence that we can leave everything in the hands of Jesus. As usual, one of the disciples fails to grasp the point – and this is not the last time Thomas will shy away from accepting the challenge: in the upper room he will shy away also from the reality of the Resurrection. It is useful, right at the beginning of the discussion, to see one of the chosen disciples whining and attempting to evade the challenge – as we all do from time to time.  Jesus replies with the great statement, ‘I am the way, the truth and life’. He is the way because he is truth and life. Truth, as we have seen especially in the great teaching on Jesus as Wisdom from heaven in the Bread of Life discourse. He is life, as we see in the promise of living water, life-giving water, and the promise of eternal life, symbolised by the raising of Lazarus.In closing Fr Paul shares today’s Gospel Lesson – let us just reflect on the words of Jesus – I am the way, the truth and life. No one can come to the Father except through me.