Fifth Sunday of Easter (Jn. 14:1-12) “Have I Found the Way?”
Fifth Sunday of Easter (Jn. 14:1-12) “Have I Found the Way?”
The gospel passage we read today is a familiar one. If Paul’s hymn concerning love in chapter 13 of Corinthians is the Bible passage most often read at weddings, John 14:1-12 is the section of scripture most often read at funerals. Something about it speaks to us as we contemplate death.
When someone dies, they pass beyond our sight. The person has pierced through the curtain that separates the tangible world where we dwell into another reality that we can only speculate about it. We long to see them again. We are told that we will, but we are afraid we won’t. The deceased person has taken the final journey. We wonder if we will be able to take the same path.
These words of Jesus come from his last discourse in the Gospel of John. He hints as his impending death. The apostles are disturbed by his words. The disciples don’t want to be left behind. Peter asks why he cannot go with Jesus. Thomas tells Jesus he can’t follow because he doesn’t know the way. Philip requests directions so that he might go along. Jesus tells them all that he has shown them “the way.” No more information needs to be given.
“The Way” speaks not only of the journey from this world to the next. “The way” speaks of how we are supposed to live from the time we are born until we die. In the Acts of the Apostles, early Christianity is referred to as “the way.” In Acts 9:2 people are arrested for following “the way.”
“The way” was not unfamiliar to the people who read the Gospel of John. The Old Testament Jews spoke often of the path we need to follow if we are to be faithful to God. God spoke to Moses about this. God said in the Book of Deuteronomy (5:32-3) when the Lord said, “You shall not turn to the right or to the left. You must follow exactly the path the Lord your God has commanded you.” Moses worried about the people saying, “I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly, turning aside from the way that I have commanded you.” The prophet Isaiah also spoke of the way. He said in Isaiah 35:8, “In the brave new world, there will be a highway called The Way of Holiness, and in it the traveler, even though a simple soul, would not become lost. In Psalm 27 we have the repeated prayer, “Teach me your way Oh Lord.”
For the person who tries to traverse the highway of life, there must be a sense that there is a preferred path. Too often it seems like we live in a world that says our actions are irrelevant. Whenever we speak of living a moral way of life, we are in danger of being accused of being judgmental.
We do have to be careful because the way of Jesus isn’t as simple as having a list of moral absolutes and following. Jesus seldom dealt in absolutes. Jesus’ way is often mysterious. On many questions he gives us a lot of latitude. Someone once said that there are two types of mystery. We dwell in accidental mystery which means that there are things that we do not know right now that we one day will know. We also deal in essential mystery which means that the more we know the more mysterious life becomes. When we think we have God’s designs figured out then God is no longer God for God is absolute mystery. Despite what we may think, we aren’t usually calmed by intellectual information.
Jesus linked his “way” with two things, truth and life. We are to strive to be true to God’s designs for us. How believers live out the values of Jesus encourages or discourages others. Too often we see hypocrisy. A greedy Christian who teaches generosity will be viewed with skepticism. An agitated Christian who teaches the value of serenity will be dismissed. An embittered Christian who talks about loving others will also be an incongruity. A humble Christian who says I am still figuring things out is probably the person who presents Christianity in the best light.
Life is the other word that is attached to Jesus’ way. We don’t seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge but seek always to know what makes life worthwhile. Jesus wants us to have a meaningful existence.
When we were born the Spirit of God was placed in us. A part of us is divine. For that reason, we are always drawn toward God. We once were one with God and we want to be one again. We have an innate sense of what life should be about, what is right and what is true. Jesus came to the world to remind us of who we are in the core of our being. When we turn from the way, we will find frustration. When we follow Jesus’ way, we follow a path that leads to peace. Jesus tells us in John 14:27, we aren’t meant to be distressed or fearful, but are meant to live in peace. The way of Jesus leads to his peace.
Reflection Questions:
When did I start to exist? Do I believe my life is without beginning or end?
Is a better way to live life? Who teaches me this way?
Dear Parishioners,
Six years ago, the State of Illinois passed a tax credit for those who wanted to make donations to support Catholic Schools. The tax credit program has been of great benefit to Seton School and to Alleman High School. 40,000 scholarships have been awarded to those attending private schools. Most of them have gone to Catholic School students.
It has come time to renew the legislation that has been put in place. It would hurt our schools financially if the tax credit program lapsed.
I would ask parishioners to contact their state representatives to encourage them to continue this program. For a fuller explanation, please contact the Catholic Conference of Illinois at its website (www.ilcatholicc.org). There are sample messages that you can send. We need your help.
May Our Lady of Peace pray for us,
Fr. Mark
P.S. Thanks to all who helped with the First Communion program this year. Congratulations to all those who received.