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.” (Jn 14:1-6)
In today’s Gospel — one which is often used at funerals, by the way — Jesus speaks to His Apostles one last time before His Ascension into heaven.
Remember, He had been with them throughout His years of public ministry. They heard Him, they saw His many miracles, and they accepted Him as their teacher, leader, and guide.
But then, something terrible happened. He was arrested, tried, convicted, and crucified. Those who did not flee saw Him die on a cross. Their worlds were shattered, their dreams lost.
And then, something incredible happened. He rose from the dead. Many of them did not believe it at first, and He had to prove Himself to them. Finally, all came to believe that He had indeed risen from the dead and was back among them.
If you cannot kill Him, He will be with you forever, right? Would that not be the general assumption?
That would not be the case. Jesus took His followers up a mountain to say goodbye. He told them that they knew where He was going. And “Doubting Thomas” once again showed his lack of faith: “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”
Jesus’ answer was filled with nothing but love: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
We may feel, in our own lives, far from the Lord. We may wonder if He is near to us at all. We are like Thomas and say, “We do not know.” In all of those emotions, in all of our confusion, through all of our doubt, all we need to remember is the one basic truth, Jesus IS the way, the truth and the life. If we remember that, He will lead us to the Father.
FAITH ACTION: Take some time today, preferably at least a half hour, to sit in silence. Simply repeat the word “Jesus” slowly and reverently, over and over, to yourself. Spend that time with the Lord and allow Him the opportunity to touch your life this day. He may speak to you, He may show you something, He may simply assure you that He is there with you. Just give Him that time and let Him do the rest.