April 20, 2008 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
20 APRIL 2008, 5:15, 8:00, 10:30
READINGS: Acts 6:1-7; I Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12
SAINT MARY PARISH, VIROQUA
Introduction: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” These are the words of Jesus to his apostles. He speaks them the night before he dies. He, the condemned one, is telling his friends not to fear.
1. He says many things to them on this night. In response to Philip’s request he says, “I am the way, and the truth and the life.” Our Church teaches that Jesus is the only way to the Father, the only way to heaven. Not long ago, our Holy Father made a remark much like that. A friend of mine said, “That sounds so exclusive, as if only Catholics are going to heaven.” Well, that’s not what the Pope said; it’s not what he meant. When this subject comes up I am fond of quoting from Saint John’s letter, “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him.” We know that God is love. So, when the aborigine holds love in his heart for his family, God is in him. When a Christian of another tradition has love for the poor, God is in her. When the Muslim or Buddhist or Hindu has love for an enemy, God is in him. Salvation is likely. Still, it is Jesus alone who is the way, the truth and the life; it is Jesus alone who opened the way for these and for us to the Father; and how blessed are we to hear his Word and to have such intimacy with him in the Eucharist.
2. There is, of course, a great paradox in this saying of Jesus. If we take “the way” to the Father, it seems to imply that we are all on the same road. What boredom. Wrong! When we go toward God, we find ourselves on a path that no other person has walked. A Spanish poet wrote, “No one went yesterday/nor goes today/nor will go tomorrow/toward God/by this path/that I go./For each person God reserves a new ray of the sun’s light/and a virgin path.” The person who insists on “doing it my way” finds himself falling into a tired and predictable behavior. The one who takes Jesus as “the way” is on a virgin path, a path unique to each who walks upon it.
Nor does walking “the way” with Jesus mean it will be easy for us. A man walks down a street minding his own business when he falls into a hole. A doctor walks by and the man shouts up at him, “Hey, can you help me out?” So the doctor throws a prescription down into the hole. Then a priest walks by and again the man in the hole shouts out, “Hey buddy, can you help me out?” So the priest throws a prayer down into the hole. Finally, a friend walks by and the man hollers up again, “Hey, Joe, can you help me out?” The friend jumps down the hole. So the man reprimands him saying, “What are you – stupid? Now we’re both down here!” And his friend replies, “Yea, but I’ve been down here before and I know the way out.” Well, Jesus has been on our path, any path we choose to take. He is God become man. He has been in our pit; he’s been in any tomb we can imagine. And he knows the way out!
3. Our task, like that of the early Christians, is to keep the memory of Jesus alive. We do this by gathering in his name, by reading and praying the Scriptures, by celebrating the Eucharist in his name, by living morally, by respecting human life, and by loving our neighbors.
Conclusion: So, Jesus is our way, our truth and our life. No one goes to the Father but through him. We do our part by keeping the memory of Jesus alive, by walking through life grasping his hand as he leads us out of our tombs. So, “let not your hearts be troubled.”