Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 14,1-12
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
Where (I) am going you know the way.”
Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.
The Way the Truth and the Life
The two most important questions of life are: 1. Where am I going? (or will I get to heaven?) and 2. how do I get there? Jesus answers both of these questions definitively by revealing: “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Notice what He doesn’t say: I am a way or a truth or a life.
1) I am THE Way.
There’s a great story about a man who escaped an enemy prison camp and ran into a jungle. After many days of walking the man realized he was lost and could not find his way out. He prayed and miraculously encountered a native who had a machete. The escaped prisoner pleaded with him to show him the way out and even offered him money. The native only smiled and told him to follow him. After several hours of following the native who was hacking through the heavy bush, the prisoner began to doubt where he was leading him. He finally asked him do you know the way to get out or not? The native replied “I am the way.”
The very first Christians called our faith “the way” because they saw life as a journey, not a destination. They believed by closely following Christ, they would arrive at their destination which we call Heaven. That way is love, and with Him as our guide, we trust He can blaze a trail through the most dangerous jungles of our life.
2) I am THE Truth
Jesus came to reveal the truth of who the Father was and who we are to ourselves. We are made in the image and the likeness of God and we belong to him not only as his creations but as his beloved children. This not only gives us the existential coordinates to have a firm grounding in our life that anchors us despite any storm but is the greatest affirmation of our dignity and value. As the Savior and Redeemer He came to free us and restore our value and teaches the good news that God’s love has the power to save anyone.
3) I am THE Life
Many people survive or just basically exist instead of vibrantly living a full life of love. Jesus offers us life, life in abundance. This is a life of grace which leads us to our ultimate destiny- Heaven, where we will live for all eternity in the perfection of the Trinitarian love. This super natural life begins now, here on earth, if we only open our hearts and allow His grace to fill them.
May God bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Always remember heaven is our goal.
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