The Way of Jesus

The gospel we hear today, from the Gospel of St. John, begins what might be called Jesus’ last will and testament. It begins his last teaching to his apostles before His passion and death.

First, he says don’t let your heart be troubled. Don’t worry. Things are not as bad as they are going to seem to be. That is helpful advice to us who may be tempted to see everything happening in our world in a negative light. Just as the resurrection came as a big surprise to the apostles, God will surprisingly make good arise from the ashes of the evil around us this time and according to His plan.

Secondly, Jesus tells us that the Father has prepared a place for us. We could ask along with Thomas, how do we get there? Of course, we know Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life.” Jesus is the way, but we may well ask what is the way of Jesus? The proponents of the Reformation looked at faith in Jesus in more or less intellectual terms. Belief was assent to the articles of faith.

We know the articles of faith are descriptive of a relationship to the person of Jesus Christ and the real way is to live as He lived, in love and service to the Father through love and service to all God’s children, especially the most deprived and unloved.

The way of Jesus is not easy. For Him it appeared to end with the crucifixion, and if we follow Him, the same thing will happen to us in some way. But if we truly follow Him, regardless of any apparent setbacks and disasters, our crucifixion will also culminate with resurrection. And that is the way to the place the Father has prepared for us.

May we have the wisdom and courage to truly follow Jesus Christ, more and more each day.