The scriptures of this day remind me that God is always there with us and preparing our way before we even know. Often this gospel is read at funerals as a comfort to those who survive that their loved one is cared for and at home. I can imagine an eternal home where we can all be together, to be present with all those we love and who love us. 
I too have those doubts at times as Thomas, "we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" When I'm feeling unsure about the  future or the next steps even, I need to remember that Jesus is the way the truth and the life... follow me..." I often need to remember to have trust and follow, the way will be opened before me, and if not, then maybe I need to stop and wait until the way forward is clear. To have the ongoing discernment on the journey to stop and check the way as I go. 
Remembering who I follow who calls me and who leads me. 

When I am answering the call with a sense of grace, I find that my heart is at peace, my faith is strengthened, and I have a knowing of the rightness of the journey. Dominican Women Afire Preaching – 2018

We Follow a Long Line of Preachers

Genealogy is very popular these days as people strive to discover their roots and their family history. But as Dominicans, as followers of Jesus, we have it easy: Paul has already discovered and written our genealogy and lays it out for us in our first reading. We come from a long line of preachers, servants of God, dating all the way back to Moses!

Paul starts his family tree with Moses, who gave a prophetic message to Pharaoh and led God’s people out of slavery. In the next centuries, God continues choosing messengers and preachers in a variety of forms: judges, prophets, and kings who do the work of God to various degrees of faithfulness – often at the risk of their own lives. Finally, Paul brings us to John the Baptist, the humble prophet who knows his own unworthiness next to his successor, the Messiah.

This beautiful genealogy of prophets and preachers continues in the Gospel, when Jesus washes his apostles’ feet and prepares to go to his death. But he has a final word to say to his apostles. He sends them as his successors, preachers to whom Jesus is so connected that “whoever receives the one I send receives me.”

Jesus sends us all out to preach the Good News – as he sent out Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles; as he sent out his apostles; and as he sent out St. Dominic and the Dominicans over the centuries. It is now our turn to preach, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection and of the ultimate reign of God! As we continue to celebrate Easter, let us be bold in proclaiming the Resurrection, God’s love, and our hope for eternal life – through words from the pulpit, words one on one with others, and our acts of service and love. As Christians, as followers of Jesus, it is our responsibility and our joy to make this proclamation. He is risen! Alleluia!