Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” Today's Gospel is one that is frequently proclaimed at funeral masses. In that setting, this passage appears to be oblivious and insensitive to both the historical context of the gospel and the emotions of the mourners. In John's gospel, Jesus speaks these words to his apostles on the night of the Last Supper immediately after three disturbing revelations; the announcement of Judas' betrayal, Jesus' declaration that he will only be with them a little while longer and the prediction of Peter's betrayal. How could their hearts not be troubled? Any one of these statements is troubling enough - all three are devastating. Why then does Jesus make such a contradictory statement?...