5/3/2024 (Friday) Today’s gospel reading: John 14:6-14

6 Jesus said to Thomas: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by me.
7 If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also: and from henceforth you shall know him, and you have seen him.
8 Philip said to him: Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.
9 Jesus saith to him: Have I been so long a time with you; and have you not known me? Philip, he that sees me sees the Father also. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Do you not believe, that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not of myself. But the Father who abides in me, he does the works.
11 Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
12 Otherwise believe for the very works’ sake. Amen, amen I say to you, he that believes in me, the works that I do, he also shall do; and greater than these shall he do.
13 Because I go to the Father: and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, that will I do: that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you shall ask me any thing in my name, that I will do.

5/3/2024 (Friday) Today’s gospel reflection / homily / sermon: John 14:6-14

In the gospel reading above, Jesus offers a profound and comforting assurance in a world filled with uncertainties and endless questions about purpose, direction, and truth. He declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” These words are not merely a claim to a path towards God, but an invitation to a relationship rooted in truth and life.

Imagine walking through a dense forest where the path isn’t clear, and every direction seems fraught with confusion. Jesus, in these passages, promises to be our guide, the clear path through the forest of life’s challenges. He doesn’t just show us the way; He is the way. This means that our journey isn’t about striving to follow a set of rules, but about walking with Him, learning from Him, and growing in Him every day.

Furthermore, Jesus’ assurance that “if you really know me, you will know my Father as well,” invites us into a familial relationship with God. It is a relationship that transcends simple knowledge of God and moves into an intimate, ongoing encounter with the Divine. Through Jesus, the mysterious becomes known, the unseen is seen, and the unfathomable love of God becomes a daily reality.

In the verses that follow, Jesus encourages us to believe in Him not only for His words but also for His works. He speaks of greater works that those who believe in Him will do, reminding us that faith in Him is dynamic and active. It’s an empowering thought that through faith, we can continue His legacy of love, service, and transformation in the world.

Let us hold tightly to Jesus, our Way, our Truth, and our Life. In doing so, we find not only the path to God but also the strength to perform works of profound impact, powered by His spirit living through us. It’s an invitation to live fully, love deeply, and serve joyfully, knowing that we are never alone on this journey.

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