Fifth Sunday of Easter; 7 May 2023; Easter 5A (RCL); Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14.
We often hear this passage from John’s Gospel at funerals, and the usual translation reads “In my Father’s house are many mansions,” or “many dwelling places.” The word in Greek is μοναὶ (monai) plural for μονή, a cognate of the verb μένειν, to remain or abide, a favorite verb of John’s (the Father abides in me, and I abide in the Father, and we abide in you). When the first two disciples of John the Baptist follow Jesus, he turns and asks, “What do you seek?” and they reply, “Rabbi, where do you remain?” And he answers, “Come and see.”
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