Jn 8:21-30

Jesus said to the Pharisees:

“I am going away and you will look for me,

but you will die in your sin.

Where I am going you cannot come.”

So the Jews said,

“He is not going to kill himself, is he,

because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”

He said to them, “You belong to what is below,

I belong to what is above.

You belong to this world,

but I do not belong to this world.

That is why I told you that you will die in your sins.

For if you do not believe that I AM,

you will die in your sins.”

So they said to him, “Who are you?”

Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning.

I have much to say about you in condemnation.

But the one who sent me is true,

and what I heard from him I tell the world.”

They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father.

So Jesus said to them,

“When you lift up the Son of Man,

then you will realize that I AM,

and that I do nothing on my own,

but I say only what the Father taught me.

The one who sent me is with me.

He has not left me alone,

because I always do what is pleasing to him.”

Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

Today's reflection from Kasey (Hamilton) Cronin, Powers Catholic High School, Class of 1977 and current Executive Director of the Genesee County Catholic Schools.

Goodbyes are difficult for many of us, myself included. You may experience this early on as a toddler voicing your dislike about having to leave your grandparents home. We also see this as we say goodbye to our parents as a 5-year-old starting school. Later, although we may not have admitted it, we find ourselves crying as our family drives away from our college dorm. I will tell you I shed even more tears when watching my own children leave the family home as they started on their own life journeys. I believe this happens out of fear of the unknown in addition to not wanting to leave the safety of what is known and that which brings us warmth, comfort and joy. Goodbyes and new beginnings can be challenging.  

In today’s Gospel reading, we find the followers of Jesus experiencing these same feelings. They were confused, fearful, and sad when Jesus told them He was going somewhere they could not go. They did not want to leave the warmth and comfort of His presence. They were fearful of what life would be like without Jesus as a part of their lives. They, too, were clinging to what brought them comfort and joy. 

For most of us, the ultimate goodbye is the most difficult and changes our lives forever. This, of course, is the loss of someone we cherish to death. We grieve for their presence in our daily lives. We are fearful of the unknown of what our life will be without them. The good news from today’s Gospel reading is we know we will see them once again! Jesus clearly states He is I AM. This refers back to when God revealed Himself as I AM to Moses near the burning bush. This is a not-so-subtle clue that Jesus is the Son of God and if we believe in Him, we will never have to say goodbye again. 



As we near the end of the Lenten season, let us keep our loved ones and friends close to us. Reach out to those who need your presence in their lives. Let us pray for them and shower them with our kindness. We know, just as the followers of Jesus learned, we will not always be together. Let us invite Jesus into our daily lives knowing He is always near. Let this be a new beginning focused on God and one another.    

Please click play to join us in our prayer for today, led by Kasey Cronin ('77), Darcy (Cronin) Thomas ('04), and future Chargers: Johnny (1st grade, Holy Family), Danny (Holy Family preschool), Adeline (2 years old), and Genevieve (5 weeks old).

Have you missed a day or want to see something again? Click below to see our past #HappyLent2022 emails.