Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 3, 2024
Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen 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?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
When my husband Jeffrey and I moved back to his hometown in 1985, he often took shortcuts to get around town. His goal was to reach the intended destination as quickly as possible. He effortlessly navigated the back roads and one-way streets to avoid all traffic lights, never taking the same route twice. I never learned any landmarks to help me navigate this new city.
Out of frustration, I finally demanded that he stick to the same route each time we traveled together so I could learn my way to work, the grocery store, church, and home. I often remark to people that I have “geographic dyslexia” to describe the dilemma facing me each time I encounter a new intersection—I inevitably choose the opposite direction. If I am supposed to turn left, my instinct is to turn right.
You can imagine my relief when Google Maps arrived—simply enter the destination, and the directions magically appear! But I was still faced with a decision. Do I choose the route that avoids highways, the route that avoids tolls, or the fastest route?
Most people would agree that heaven is their final eternal destination. Many of us believe there are multiple paths to get there, and we have the freedom to choose the path. However, Jesus tells us, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
While Google Maps offers several routes to reach a destination, there is only one way to reach heaven—by following Jesus. The gospels give us the road map. There are no shortcuts on the route to eternal life—there is only one way—Jesus.
Prayer
Jesus proclaims, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Lord, this Easter mystery emboldened your apostles to preach the power of your resurrection from the dead, even to suffer martyrdom for the sake of your name. Though few if any of us will be asked to die a martyr’s death, help us to share the glory of your cross in how we live for others today, for it is our only hope and the way of our life. Amen!