“Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe because of the works themselves.“ This statement of Jesus to Philip at the Last Supper, when Philip questioned him and still didn’t seem to understand, gives me great peace and reassurance. He is describing a way to restore faith when it is lacking.

He always went the extra mile. As if it isn’t enough that he added becoming fully human to his fully divine nature – eating, sleeping, working, dealing with daily hassles, inconveniences and rude people. And he accepted excruciating pain and humiliation in order to lead all humans to heaven through his death and resurrection.

He also constantly prepared his followers so they would understand the unfathomable and unprecedented events that would happen. And then, through his gift of the Holy Spirit, he gave us the church and each other.

And on the night before he died, as he was gathered with his friends, he gave them and us the gift of his very self in the Eucharist.

His reply to Philip about believing “because of the works themselves” was yet another gift.

To me, it means if we are fortunate, graced, or open enough to believe in Jesus because of his words, great! But if we are too confused, or doubting, or preoccupied, he tells us to at least look at the works he did. He knows that a careful, thoughtful reflection upon those works – the many healing, compassionate, life-giving and inspirational works his disciples saw, and we now know – will lead us to belief, in spite of ourselves.

This gives me peace because we sometimes find ourselves in situations where believing may be strained or difficult. But if we can remember to call to mind, or read about or reflect on, the works he did (and even the works we see him do today in our lives and the lives of others) we will be led back to faith.

I think that’s one of the characteristics of Pope Francis that I found so refreshing, so Christlike. He encouraged people to be open, to not be rigid and restrict our faith life. Just as Jesus didn’t reject Philip for his lack of understanding and belief, Pope Francis didn’t reject people whose faith fell short. He encouraged us to look at the works Jesus did, demonstrating Jesus’ compassion, concern, mercy, and trust in God through his own life and actions.