John 14:23-29

Our Gospel reading today is set on the evening before Jesus died. He is saying goodbye to his disciples, as his physical presence to them was coming to an end. He says that his word and his teachings are not his, but come from his Father. I am reading a book at the moment by Peter Kreeft (Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings, Word on Fire, 2021). In it he writes about this Gospel passage: ‘Jesus says that his word, his teaching, is not his but his Father’s. Jesus was the greatest plagiarist in history, the least original thinker in history. Every thought in his mind came from his Father's mind. He was also the most creative and original person in history. If you want to be creative and original, Jesus shows you the secret. He is the Logos, the Mind of God.’

In his typical accessible, yet serious and thought provoking style, Kreeft touches on how deeply rich the word of God is. It is our inexhaustible source of life. Even after two thousand years we still only scratch the surface of Jesus’ and his Father’s words and teachings. Kreeft compares it to a sea. We can  see only the surface, yet there is so much depth and richness below it. So we should all go fishing and diving into that rich sea.

We are, therefore, called to be like the man in our painting by Winsley Homer: to take our boats deep into the oceans and go fishing to discover the rich life that lies beneath its surface. Yes we may face storms and we may feel lonely on our boats, but the discoveries will be magnificent!

Our painting, entitled The Fog Warning, depicts a weather-beaten fisherman rowing alone in a small wooden vessel. He is looking over his left shoulder towards a larger, steadier ship and the fog that is appearing behind her. He is riding the choppy surfaces of the water. A wave thrusts up the bow of the boat. The two large fish (they are halibut) are keeping the boat down and preventing it from tipping over. Halibut fishing, as Homer learned from the fishermen he befriended, was among the most dangerous fishing, as one had to travel deep into the seas to catch them. It was a risky business. So is our faith!