Friday of the Fourth Week of
Easter
(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)
In the Gospel according to John, Jesus describes himself with many illustrative
metaphors. He says, “’I am the light of
the world’”; “’I am the bread of life; “’I am the good shepherd,’” and so
forth. These images shake our way of thinking
to help us realize that Jesus is more than human. He touches every dimension of our existence. He is the light that illumines our minds, the
bread that increases our strength, and the shepherd who changes our
destiny. In today’s gospel Jesus
proclaims, “’I am the way, the truth, and the life.’” How is he “the way”? What does he mean by calling himself “the
truth” and “the life”?
Jesus is “the way” to God, his Father.
In the Gospel of Matthew he says the way to salvation is narrow and
traversed by few. And so it is difficult
to follow Jesus’ path of selfless love.
But he is “the way” as well because he provides all the help that is
needed in the sacraments. He corrects
our errant tendencies in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He fortifies our drooping spirits in the
Eucharist.
Jesus is “the way” because he is “the truth” and “the life.” He is “the truth” in two senses. First, he reveals the Father’s love for the
world and how the Father expects the world to respond. Second, as God, Jesus is the foundation of
all truth. When scientists find a remedy
for the Corona-19 virus, we will say, “thank God,” because God is the source of
all truth.
When Jesus calls himself “the life,” he means something more than
biological life. He has “life in
abundance” or “eternal life” in mind.
This is life full of joy, peace, and love. It is the life of a saint like John
XXIII. The good pope, whom many today
still remember, would not allow the worries of his office take away his
smile. We strive to live this life now
and look forward to it in the resurrection of the dead.
