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The Way to the Father
“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.” John 14:4–6
In addition to His parables and moral teachings, Jesus revealed to
His disciples deep mysteries in a direct way that they did not
immediately comprehend, especially when He spoke to the Twelve in
intimate settings, such as the Last Supper, the context for today’s
Gospel. In this discourse, Jesus explains, in veiled form, that He
will soon ascend into Heaven where He will prepare a place for His
followers. He explains that because they know Him, they know the
way to where He is going—the way to the Father—because He Himself
is that Way. As Jesus spoke these mysterious truths, we can imagine
the Twelve listening attentively, yet with confusion.
Everything Jesus taught was true. His words, recorded in the
Gospels, reveal to us the deepest divine mysteries. Within the
Scriptures, we find all we need to know to attain perfect holiness
and the eternal life of Heaven. Yet we cannot quickly digest Jesus’
words as we might an intriguing novel or history book. There are
many layers of depth to what He says, and we can only understand
those layers through prayer.
As the conversation continued, “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’?’” (John 14:8–9).
Jesus’ response likely surprised Philip and the other disciples
because they did not understand what He was saying. Their intention
was good—they wanted to understand—but Jesus’ words were more than
they could comprehend at that moment. Despite this, Jesus gently
rebuked Philip as a way of drawing him deeper into the mystery He
was revealing.
God often treats us the same way. There are many things that we do
not understand. Why do innocent people suffer? Why doesn’t God heal
my loved one in answer to my prayers? Why do my children no longer
practice the faith? What am I supposed to do with my life?
Just as Philip struggled to understand Jesus’ words, we, too, face
moments of confusion when God’s ways seem beyond our grasp. God’s
answer to life’s most challenging questions is rarely
straightforward or immediate. Why? Because such an approach can
never fully satisfy the depth of our hearts. Instead, God reveals a
kernel of truth to us and then invites us to ponder it, revealing
the divine mystery we seek to understand little by little, to the
degree we are open.
The answers we seek come only as we conform our wills to God’s,
patiently opening ourselves to His Wisdom. Divine mysteries can
only be understood through prayer and deep attentiveness to the
truths in God’s mind. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Only by uniting ourselves to Him in prayer will we discover the
path we must walk, the truth we need to hear, and the life we are
called to live.
Reflect today on anything you struggle to understand. See yourself
as one of the Twelve, listening to Jesus speak, but failing to
comprehend. Do not be discouraged; instead, allow the fullness of
Jesus’ divine Truth to sink in gradually. Spend time in prayer,
read the Gospels, be open, and listen from the depths of your
heart. Seek out His gentle voice and know that He is your Way,
Truth, and Life. Let Him lead you and reveal to you the mysteries
of His divine Wisdom so that you, too, know the way to the Father
in Heaven.
Most glorious Lord, everything You have revealed to us is pure
truth, yet my mind is often incapable of fully comprehending Your
Wisdom. Draw me into the many mysteries You wish to reveal, and
teach me to pray so that I will more fully comprehend the way to
You and to Your Father in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: NateBergin, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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