“I am the way and the truth and the life” John 14:6

The Apostles did not understand what Jesus told them, which is the reason behind Thomas’ question in today’s Gospel reading. St Augustine wrote that the Lord explains that he is the way to the Father because “He needed to say ‘I am the Way’ to show them that they really knew what they thought they were ignorant of because they knew him.” Jesus is the way to the Father through what he teaches, for by keeping to his teaching, we will reach heaven through faith, which he inspires because he came to this world so “that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” St Francis de Sales, in his book, “Introduction to the Devout Life,” writes that: “Just as children by listening to their mothers, and prattling with them, learn to speak their language, so we, by keeping close to the Savior in mediation, and observing his words, his actions, and his affections, shall learn, with the help of his grace, to speak, to act, and to will like him. Diana Gaillardetz recounts her journey with her son on the ancient pilgrimage across Spain, the Camino de Santiago, and the challenge they often faced in finding the route markers. Missing a sign meant miles of unnecessary travel. But she says they were blessed to find a local town elder when these occasions arose who would simply tell them, “Follow me, and I will take you there.” And so it was that in answering Thomas’s very human question, he provided all of us with our own pilgrimage path. Early Christianity was called “The Way” before it was a church or a formal religion. This ‘Way” is founded upon a deep, trusting relationship with Jesus. Today, we find it too easy to think of the “truth” of Jesus only in the language of formal, doctrinal statements that often say little about the challenges of daily living. Only in our decision to follow Jesus, who is “way” and “life” can the “truth” of Jesus be discovered.

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