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A few years ago, on the way to the grocery store, a small voice spoke from the back of the SUV.

“Mom, how do you get to Heaven?”

Big question for my four-year old to be pondering while I was contemplating whether to buy white or wheat bread.

While I thought about the best answer to give a preschooler and also why he would even ask such a question out of the blue, he said, “Never mind, Mom. I know. Jesus comes and takes your hand.”

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“Yep,” I said. “That’s how.”

Simple wisdom from the mouth of a child. From that day onward, I had a deeper understanding about the pathway to Heaven, to eternal life, to our final home. Jesus will be there, with his outstretched hand. Who would not take it?

This morning, I read another beautiful conversation along these same lines that also left me in awe and wonder. 

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going,” Jesus said.

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

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Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.”

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“Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”

What a conversation. Incredible messages. I could really “hear” this conversation, so full of hope, promise, love. And that last line, “You can ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Amazing.

It’s Holy Week. Happy Maundy Thursday! Tonight we have Mass, washing of the feet, stripping of the altar and adoration in the Altar of Repose. My husband, Bishop Leo Michael, took this lovely picture through the altar rail. Hope you all have a blessed Easter!20130328_171436_resized