As a willful child with a curious mind, I did not want to know just a part of any story. I often wanted to know more about something, but my parents would only offer partial explanations. “But why?” I would demand. My mother, in particular, would say there was more to the story than she could reveal, telling me I would not be able to understand it all at that time. Her advice generally was, “Just wait, one day you’ll see.” I felt frustrated with these vague answers.  

Reflecting on today’s Gospel, my perspective is different. I think about how I understand the world now and my mother’s advice on patience. Sometimes we simply cannot fully appropriate all there is to know, and the wise person understands this. Jesus certainly did. There was too much to reveal, and his disciples needed more time to live in the post-resurrection reality before they could be further enlightened.  

Jesus’ revelation that the Spirit will soon disclose more is a message meant for us as well. We simply cannot know everything, but we have to pay attention to the Spirit as we go along, our sights fixed on the Risen Lord. We are making our way through these final days of yet another Easter season. The truth will be revealed . . . but in God’s time, not ours. There will always be more to the story.