Years ago, long before I was assigned here to Holy Spirit parish, I used to walk through this neighborhood on my daily walks, and I would pass by this psychic, which I believe is still right here on Jericho Turnpike. I found the sign outside the psychic reader to be somewhat amusing. "Psychic Readers - Palm Reading - Tarot cards - Ring bell and wait for buzzer and proceed to second floor.”

Now, I often thought -- if there was a psychic working there, why would I have to ring the bell in order to be let in -- they just ought to know that I am there!

But have you ever asked yourself why seeking out a psychic is contrary to the Catholic faith? Well, for one thing, I think that seeking the counsel of a psychic can become a rather addictive behavior. People get hooked on psychics -- why? Because whatever glimpse that they seemingly can give you into the future is never enough. The words or advice that they give lead to further worries, further questions, further doubts that need to be cleared up.

But the other reason why psychics or fortune telling is contrary t our religion is even a simpler one. God has put all of us, his children, on a need-to-know basis. Why did he do that? Well those of you who are parents might know the answer to that one if you can just imagine the following conversation with your children.
    "Honey, get dressed, we're going to Aunt Lorraine's house."
    "Is cousin Johnny going to be there?"
    "Yes, I suppose so. We'll find out when we get there. Come on, let's go."
    "No, I don't want to go if cousin Johnny's not going to be there."
    "I'm sure your cousin will be there. Come on, let's go."
    "Maybe we should call first to see if cousin Johnny is there."
    "We don't have time for that, come on."
    "Is Aunt Lorraine going to have something for us to eat?"
    "Yes, I'm sure she's going to have something -- she always has something. It's not like we're going to let you starve."
    "I know, but I wonder if she's going to have those apple turnovers. I like those apple turnovers. Do you think she's going to have apple turnovers?"
    "I'm sure she's going to have apple turnovers."
    "Well, I really would feel an awful lot better if we could just call her and ask her if cousin Johnny is going to be there and if she's going to have apple turnovers."
    "I already told you there is no time for that."

Now, many parents want to put their children on a need to know basis. Why? Not just because their questions drive you nuts -- but where is the trust. You are the parent, after all, and you know what is best for your child.

So too, God knows what is best for us. But he doesn't reveal the future in all it's detail because he knows that the true pathway to peace and serenity in this life is not by having all the details -- the only pathway to serenity is surrender. I feel that call to surrender right now in my life as I prepare to move from here to my new assignment in two months -- what will it be like, will I like it there, will they like me? I'm like a little kid on my way to Aunt Lorraine's house wondering if cousin Johnny's going to be there and if I'm going to have apple turnovers. And even if God were going to give me all the answers, would that draw me into a deeper intimacy with him? When newlyweds get married, their intimacy isn't dependent on knowing all the facts and details about their future -- their intimacy is created on a daily basis when they learn how to open their hearts to trust and surrender to the other, believing that they will not be disappointed.

In today's gospel, the disciples have all kinds of questions about the future. Today's gospel takes place on the night before Jesus is going to die. Of course, the major question is, “Where are you going and are we going to be alright?” Parenthetically, those perhaps have been the two major questions asked of me over this past month! Jesus doesn’t give a lot of details – but he simply says this, “I am going ahead of you to prepare a place for you.” In other words, I am in your future.

Whatever details we need to know about life, about our future, can all be answered in that one simple answer. Jesus. What will happen to me in my future? Jesus will be there. Will I have enough money to get by? Jesus will be there. How am I going to manage this new job or this new responsibility? Jesus will be there. No matter what the question is concerning the future, the answer is simply, “Jesus.”

Later in the gospel, Philip says, “Just show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” We really don’t want all these enigmatic answers. Just give us the Beatific Vision now – let us see the end of the movie, let’s read the last paragraph of the book, and that will be enough for us. Again, Jesus points to himself as the answer, “After all this time, you are saying show us the Father? If you see me, you see the father. Believe me – or else believe the work that I do.”

Now that is an incredible answer. I have shown you how much you are loved in the very work that I have accomplished. The blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and I too will suffer my last drop of blood for you. What more can I do to show you to prove to you that it is all going to be OK? And those great works – those great signs that God loves you will still continue in the future. Greater works than mine will be accomplished! What more do you need to know? I am the way, the truth and the life.

OK so here is the choice, quite simply. You put out one hand, and in that hand, God could, I suppose, give you all the answers, in all their detail, about every aspect of your future. It would fill you with fear and trepidation because all those facts are known without the accompanying grace to deal with each of them. And without the grace, we are still worried and we are still under the delusion that having more facts will quiet our fears.

Or, on the other hand, in the other hand, we can have Jesus, who more than any human being ever alive, more than any human being you have known or will over come to know in your life, loves you with a pure, sincere love that promises to fill your hearts with unspeakable joy.

And so weigh both of these in each hand – all the answers which bring on more questions, doubts and worries? Or Jesus?

In a moment, that open hand will receive Jesus, the Lord of life and love. As for me, I will be content to relate to God on a need-to-know basis.