Fifth Sunday of Easter
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Jn 14: 1-12
May 7, 2023 | Sunday
“Do not be troubled! Trust in God and trust in me! In my Father’s house there are many rooms; otherwise, I would not have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. After I have gone and prepared a place for you, I shall come again and take you to me, so that where I am, you also may be. Yet you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. If you know me, you will know the Father also; indeed you know him, and you have seen him.” Philip asked him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that is enough.” Jesus said to him, “What! I have been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever sees me sees 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? All that I say to you, I do not say of myself. The Father who dwells in me is doing his own work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; at least believe it on the evidence of these works that I do. Truly, I say to you, the one who believes in me will do the same works that I do; and he will even do greater than these, for I am going to the Father.
Today’s Reflection:
With His words, “Do not be troubled!” Jesus is preparing the disciples for when He is no longer with them—when they will have to live His message without His physical presence. However, the disciples are not able to understand what Jesus is trying to tell them, the same way we may also not understand. However, Jesus continues to say, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
What does it mean when Jesus says, “I am the way”? To follow the way, Jesus is a daily and frequent stroll along the path. It is a way of living every minute of every day, every decision, every action, every thought. We do not follow the path for just part of the day, or part of the year. We follow the way always, everywhere, and every day. What does it mean for Jesus to say, “I am the truth”? This reminds me of the wisdom figures, especially seen in proverbs where we have many images of the wisdom figure: a path or way, light, a precious treasure, a fountain of life, and food for the journey. Jesus’ various “I am” statements throughout the Gospel of John attribute these benefits of following wisdom’s path to following Jesus: I am the Bread of Life (6:35); I am the Light of the world (8:12); I am the Gate for the Sheep (10:7); I am the Good Shepherd (10:11); I am the Resurrection and the Life (11:25), and I am the True Vine (15:1). Let these images help guide us along the way. What does it mean when Jesus says, “I am the life”? Jesus became human to cleanse us of our sins. He died on the cross to save us. He gave us the Eucharist to give us life—and He is the life we receive in the Eucharist. /Vulnerasti, 2023
