The Way, The Truth, and The Life

May 5, 2023
Author: Hannah DeVivo

Peace be with you!

In today’s blog post I will be taking a look at the Gospel for this Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Easter.

“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." -John 14:1-12

Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled

This Gospel passage opens with a command that Jesus has given us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. He said this to His disciples at a very distressing time. He was about to be handed over and killed. In the disciple’s eyes it looked like they were about to have their leader taken away from them. The One whom they loved was being put to death. Amidst the panic and anxiety in the room, Jesus instructs them not to allow their hearts to be troubled.

Why does Jesus say this? Was He simply saying something consoling to try and cheer them up? No. Jesus was making it clear that there was no reason for them to be worried. Whatever evil was to befall them in their earthly lives was nothing compared to the eternal glory that was prepared for them. Jesus was reminding them of the truth that nothing could separate them from Himself. He was going to prepare a place for them. How beautiful and comforting is that?

Where I Am Going You Know the Way

Jesus assures His disciples that they know where to find Him. Thomas, of course, asks the obvious and logical question: “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" and Jesus responds with one of the most glorious, mystifying, and reassuring statements ever recorded: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life”. He doesn’t tell them that He will show them how to get there or what the truth is or how to have life. He reveals that He is. Nobody can get to the Father except through Jesus because They are one. As long as we hold on to Jesus we will know the way, the truth, and have life. We already know God the Father if we have received His Son.

The Father Who Dwells in Me is Doing His Works

After Jesus shares the revelation of who He is, Phillip requests something that I think many of us have asked as well: “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." It makes perfect sense from a flawed human standpoint. This miraculous Person who the disciples have followed for so long now is about to be taken away. Phillip wants to be assured once more that Jesus is, in fact, the Son of God. Many of the Jews thought that Jesus was nothing more than a deceiver. Jesus responds by restating that those who truly know Him already know and have seen the Father.

The miracles that Jesus performed were the works of God. Jesus says that if for no other reason, then the miracles alone are a reason to believe. He then goes on to say that whoever does believe in Him will also be able to perform the same works-and even more. How is this possible? Jesus is divine and already ascended into Heaven. How can the works of God continue? The answer is: through the Eucharist. Those who receive Holy Communion are able to remain in Christ, because He literally remains in them. God’s works will continue until the end of time through those who receive Him.

I invite you to hold fast to Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If you do, He will prepare a place for you and you will know the way.


Before You Go

How often do you receive our Lord in the Eucharist?

Can you relate to the apostle’s questions?

Did you learn anything new in this article?

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