Today's gospel inaugurates the approach to the second part of Easter celebration namely the Ascension or return of Jesus to heaven and the, sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus says today that it is necessary for Him to leave so that even greater works than his can be accomplished. What does he mean? How can this be?

He also says: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Now that is quite command. Not being troubled, not being upset, is something which for most people is easier said than done.

Even the disciples were no doubt getting upset. You just inform us that you are leaving us. You don't tell us where you are going, only that we cannot follow you; but for the last three years you have kept insisting on nothing else; simply follow you

How do you expect us now not to be upset? Our hearts are pounding with anxiety, fear, anger, We are filled with apprehension and confusion oh now you promise that you'll come back for us, show us the way, and bring us to some heavenly mansion in the sky. Perhaps they thought he was going to train carpenters to build houses in heaven.

Remember in the Old Testament, work was considered a curse, a necessary evil as a result of the original sin. But in the New Testament, work is tinged with glory for it has been touched by the hands of God.

God was not ashamed to do the work of a human. It was as a working man that he lived his life. He worked with his foster father Joseph as a carpenter in Nazareth. He knows the difficulties of making ends meet, and at the same time being just in the prices he charged for his products. Without doubt he knew the difficulties of dealing with ill-mannered customers and those who would not pay their bills.

Jesus concludes this section making one further claim: Do not judge me by my words alone. Don't believe just because I tell you; but believe because of my works.--because of what you see me do. Allow my works to convince you.

Do we tend to judge people by what they say or by what they do? Don't answer that question too quickly. Let me ask it another way. Do we tend to judge people by what we want to hear them say? Do we judge people by what we expect them to do?

If we judge only be expectations we leave no room for allowance. That is why Jesus says: allow me to convince you. Jesus then concludes the section with an astonishing promise: Allow me to empower you. Then you will do great~ works than I.