Who Is Speaking?

The Lord Jesus has raised his own to a great hope, greater than any other could be. Listen, and rejoice in hope.... Listen, I say, and consider where our hope may be lifted. It is Christ Jesus who is speaking. It is the only-begotten Son of God, co-eternal and equal to the Father, who is speaking. It is he who for our sake became man ... who is speaking. It is the way, the truth and the life (Jn 16:6) who is speaking. It is he who overcame the world (Jn 16:33) who is speaking of those for whom he won the victory. Listen, believe, hope, desire what he says: “Father,” he says, “I desire that where I am those whom you gave to me may also be with me.” (Jn 17:24). (In Ioannem Tr. 111, 1; PL 35, 1926)

Rev. Joseph A. Komonchak, professor emeritus of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New York.