Friday of the 4th week of Easter, May 5, 2023
Acts 13:26-33; Ps 2: 6-11; Jn 14:1-6
This week started with Jesus being the Good Shepherd, the one who will make sure we are protected and cared for. All week long we have been hearing about how Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd, but also the Son of God (Tuesday), the Light of the World (Wednesday), and the servant to all (Thursday). And today, we hear, He is the way, the truth, and the light. No one can come to the Father, unless they come through Him. Jesus has completed what He could do on earth, and soon now he must depart and prepare a place for us in the everlasting kingdom.
Thomas, who at first did not believe, but then declared, “My Lord, and My God!” once he saw the risen Jesus, now questions how they will know their way. I can almost hear the exasperation in Jesus’ voice; “I am the way….” Like Thomas, why do we even question the directions from our Master? I sometimes question the directions from my guidance map, but for 2,000 years we have been studying and working to understand the directions Jesus gave us. There should be no question on what way we should go. And yet, we still make wrong turns.
“I am the way and the truth and the life.” How clearer can it be? If we want life, life that will last for eternity, there is no other way. The trouble we have is following that path. Our own free will gets in the way and forces us to take the harder road. And sometimes, we come across roadblocks that make it almost impossible to continue on. I other day I heard the phrase, “Stay close to Jesus.” When I was young, I was always taught to stay close to the leader of our group, they will keep us safe. As I got older, and became one of those leaders, I always told those following, “Stay close, and you will be fine.” I have to believe, as Jesus was approaching His inevitable return to His Father, He was also saying, “Stay close to me, I AM the way.”
If you want to know, the way, the truth, and the life, what better way to do that than to stay close to Jesus? Stay close to Him from the moment you get out of bed, until you fall fast asleep. Implore Him to stay with you throughout the night, to be there and protect you while you sleep. Let Him lighten the darkness as you travel around. And I am not talking just about when it is dark outside, it is also about when we are living our life, where we need to stay in the light and not be darkened by sin. Then emulate His service by being a humble servant to all we meet. Love them, and care for them regardless of who they are. Remember, they deserve the dignity of being a person, just like us. And finally, we say YES to Him by consecrating our whole life to Him, the One who will provide the way, the truth, and the everlasting life we seek.
Saint James Catholic Church 