The graphic novel and movie industries seem obsessed with origin stories (often called prequels), looking back and making the case for why a character or group is who they are. It changes our understanding of them, most often illuminating something we didn’t know before…something foundational. In many ways we can never see them the same way again.

Mandalorian is the best example of this in recent years, IMHO.

I mention this because it strikes me that tomorrow’s Gospel reading from John is hands down the best, most compelling, and most important origin story ever written because it makes the case for why we take the life, teaching, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus so seriously every other Sunday of the year. And it is John’s intention that we never see Jesus in the same way again.