• HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • History
    • Dominican Spirituality
    • Life and Mission
    • Associates
      • Ireland
      • South Africa
      • Associates Stories
        • Mary Mc Crae
        • Niamh Smith
        • Janice Mc Garry
    • Dominican Saints
      • Saint Dominic
      • Thomas Aquinas
      • Saint Catherine
      • Fra Angelico
      • St. Agnes of Montepulciano
      • St. John Macias
      • A poem for Jubilee Year
    • Books
    • Child Safeguarding Policy
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Ecology
      • An Tairseach- Dominican Farm and Ecology Centre
      • 2020 – Programme of events
    • Justice
    • Education
      • Dominican Ethos in Schools
      • Secondary Schools ROI
      • Secondary Schools NI
      • Primary Schools
      • Special Schools
      • Third Level
      • Lumen Dominican Centre Sion Hill
        • Lumen Dominican Centre
    • Sacred Preaching Space
    • Ecumenism
    • Pastoral Care
    • Other Ministries
  • WHERE WE ARE
    • Ireland
    • North America – Louisiana
    • Latin America
    • South Africa
    • Portugal
      • Archives
  • VOCATIONS
    • Becoming a Dominican Sister
    • Vocation Stories
      • Sr Margaret MacCurtain OP
      • Sr Bridget O’Driscoll OP
      • Sr Elizabeth Clifford OP
      • Sr Francis Cosgrove OP
      • Sr. Aedris Coates OP
      • Sr. Margaret Kelly OP
      • Sr. Joan O’Donovan OP
      • Sr Sabine Schratz OP
      • Sr. Liz Smyth OP
      • Sr. Eileen O’Connell
      • Sr. Edel Murphy OP
      • Sr. Kathleen Fitzsimons OP
      • Sr. Paul Cloete OP
      • Sr Athanasius Melican OP
      • Sr. Rose McLarnon OP
      • Sr. Eileen McCarthy OP
    • Vocations
  • SAFEGUARDING
    • Child Safeguarding Policy
    • Child Safeguarding Statement
    • Contact Details
  • TV
    • NEWS
      • ChurchTV
      • Photo Gallery
  • CONTACT
    • GDPR
    • Data Retention and Erasure Policy
    • Privacy Notice
    • Web Privacy Statement
    • User Agreement
    • Cookie Policy
facebook
twitter

Recent

17
MAY
2014

Fifth Week of Easter

by : Elizabeth Ferguson OP
comment : 0

The first part of today’s gospel is very familiar to us as a passage often used at funerals to offer hope and consolation to the bereaved. It has the ring and tone of assurance that our beloved dead surely live on in another way.

In its context as part of the Last Supper Discourse in the Gospel of John, it seems to be offering that same consolation to the disciples. Jesus has been doing and saying some strange things, washing their feet, speaking of betrayal, of glory and of going some place where they cannot go. Their distress is evident and Jesus seems to be offering them assurance that he is going to prepare a place for them, but he will return and take them to that prepared dwelling place. Then they will be with him where he is, because they already know the way.

Thomas is confused. He doesn’t know where Jesus is going, so how could he know the way. No doubt he expresses the confusion of the other disciples and our own confusion also. Jesus assures them that he is the way.

What are these many dwelling places of which Jesus speaks, these places to which Jesus is the way? Elsewhere in the discourse, Jesus speaks of his departure in a somewhat different manner. He says that he is going so that the Spirit can come. Jesus says that the Spirit comes to remain always. Can we assume then that these dwelling places are where the Spirit dwells, the abode of God?

Jesus’ words are generally directed not to the after life but the present life. The path to be followed leads to the abode of God, of which there are many forms. But there is one way, through Jesus. This path that Jesus took was not smooth. It led him through the thickets of rejection, doubt and death. It led him through the sunshine moments of healing, teaching, bringing comfort and hope to the “sheep without shepherds.” It was the narrow road of which he spoke that led to the freedom of life. The path must pass through the inner core of the self where the Spirit abides, meeting the many challenges and obstacles that are present on the way. Such a path, journey and destination is available for all.T408

As we journey through the inner core of soul, Jesus is the Way. As we face the reality of our own being, Jesus is the Truth, and in all we encounter on the journey, Jesus is the Life. And both the journey and the destination is our dwelling place, prepared for us by Jesus. It is nothing less than the abode of God.

Elizabeth Ferguson, OP

About the Author

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

*
*

captcha *

Sr Columbia OP - Reflection for a Nun's Life Ministry

April 01, 2021

Advent Calendar' - a poem by Dr Rowan Williams narrated by Sr Eileen O Connell OP

December 14, 2020

In Memory Of Our Deceased Sisters November 19-November 2020

November 29, 2020
  • Posts
  • Categories
  • Tags
  • Easter Sunday – He is Risen… He is not here!
  • Holy Saturday ( 3 April 2021)
  • Good Friday -The Cross of Christ has Become our Tree of Life.
  • “Maundy Thursday, All the World is Still”, Malcolm Guite, 2020
  • Sr Columbia OP – Reflection for a Nun’s Life Ministry
  • Le Chéile Day 26 March 2021 – Unlocking
  • Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig 17th March 2021 
  • National Catholic Reporter: News — Iraqi sisters hope pope’s visit shows the world their country’s suffering
  • World Day of Prayer (A Women LED, GLOBAL, ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT) Press Release
  • World Day Of Prayer 5th March 2021
  • An Tairseach (29)
  • Dominican Associates (3)
  • Dominican News (255)
  • Education (68)
  • Events (85)
  • Good News (76)
  • Highlights (26)
  • Home Page Slider (18)
  • Ireland (80)
  • Justice (67)
  • Latin America (29)
  • Louisiana (17)
  • News (393)
  • Our Regions (8)
  • Poems (5)
  • Portugal (14)
  • Prayers (16)
  • Proclaiming (6)
  • Professions (4)
  • Reflections (11)
  • Rest Of The World (5)
  • Sacred Space (4)
  • South Africa (23)
  • Stories (21)
  • Uncategorized (276)
  • Vatican II- Remembering (7)
  • Vocations (14)
  • Women Preachers (12)
Dominican Women South Africa Reflection Vatican II Mission and Ministry God An Tairseach Baptism Art Chaplain Hello Logo Pauline Hospital Portugal Louisiana Ireland Mindfulness in Education Froebel College of Education The Woman at the Well Lay participation in Parish Life Compassion illness RIP Rest In Peace Mary Magdalen Spring

Twitter

  • RT @BA_McShane: Join me in conversation with Alan Hayes of @ArlenHouse on Saturday to pay tribute to the late, great Dr Margaret MacCurtain… 123 days ago
  • RT @rogerchilds2u: @sinead_mccoole @UCC @DominicanSrsCab @UCDHistory @burnslibrary @ArlenHouse Thank you for such an elegant, touching and… 182 days ago
  • RT @sinead_mccoole: Dr Margaret MacCurtain's life spanned 9 decades, 1000s of lives were enriched @UCC @DominicanSrsCab @UCDHistory @burnsl… 182 days ago

Search Our Site

Recent Posts

  • Easter Sunday – He is Risen… He is not here!
  • Holy Saturday ( 3 April 2021)
  • Good Friday -The Cross of Christ has Become our Tree of Life.
  • “Maundy Thursday, All the World is Still”, Malcolm Guite, 2020
  • Sr Columbia OP – Reflection for a Nun’s Life Ministry

Dominican Links

  • Dominican Ecology Centre
  • Dominican Contemplative Nuns at the Monastery of St Catherine of Siena
  • Order of Preachers
  • Dominican Friars
  • AMRI
  • Lay Dominicans Ireland

Our Ministries

  • Dominican Ecology Centre
  • Contemplative Outreach
  • Dominican Sisters International
  • Irish Archives Resource

Contact Us

  1. Name *
    * Please enter your name
  2. Email *
    * Please enter a valid email address
  3. Message *
    * Please enter message
Copyright © 2020 Dominican Sisters Cabra. All Rights Reserved. Please click GDPR Information.
Web DesignbyOrbit Technologies