Word from the Pastor

Fifth Sunday of Easter

I am the way and the truth and the life

Dear parish family,​

In todays’ Gospel taken from the Farewell Discourse in John’s Gospel, Jesus offers words of comfort to his disciples as he prepares for his arrest and crucifixion. Jesus invites them to trust in God and to look forward to the day when they will be reunited in the Father’s house. In ancient times when a group required accommodation for the night, one member would often be sent ahead to reserve a place at the nearest inn. But what Jesus offers them is not just an inn but an eternal dwelling place in his Father’s house.

And yet the disciples are confused, even puzzled by his words. Thomas,speaking for the others, asks the obvious questions: Where is Jesus going? How will they know the way to follow him? To these questions Jesus responds with one of the great I AM sayings in John’s Gospel: I am the way and the truth and the life. Jesus declares himself to be the only way to God and that to have known him is to have known the Father. ​

But this declaration too raises questions in the disciples’ minds; this time, it is Philip who speaks. For him and presumably the others, it would be enough just to see the Father.

Like the disciples, we bring our own questions to the Lord. When we’re not certain where the Lord is leading us, in our prayer, we often ask for clarity, sometimes even for certainty. “Show us the Father”is disciple-speak for “Lord, please reveal yourself fully so that we know where we’re headed.”

Jesus responds to Philip by saying, Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. God has revealed himself fully to us. Jesus is the Word of the Father who has taken on flesh and dwelt among us. In him and through his presence the very glory of God has come into the world and is now visible to all who recognize him with the eyes of faith.

When we find ourselves asking the Lord for clarity in prayer, let us remember that he has already revealed the answer: Jesus. All the answers to the questions we ask of God can be found in the One who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Fr. Jean Jadotte
Pastor