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_{Fifth Sunday of Easter
April 20, 2008}

        Michael Jordan is perhaps the best basketball player of all time.  Millions of young players from around the world have looked to him to show them the way to play basketball, but Michael Jordan has never said to anyone who wants to imitate him, "Follow me; I am the way."  Albert Einstein was a great genius.  From him the whole world learned deep truths about science, but Einstein never said, "I am the truth."  Jonas Salk and other outstanding doctors and scientists have done much to safeguard human life, but not one of them dared to proclaim, "I am the life."

        In today's Gospel we hear Jesus say what no merely human person could:  "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  He is of human nature like us in all things except sin, but he is a divine person also, equal to his Father in everything.

        A travel guide tells us, "That is the way; follow it."  Jesus says, "I am the way."  A teacher tells us, "This is the truth, accept it."  But Jesus says, "I am the truth."  Parents tell their children, "We gave you life; appreciate it."  But Jesus says, "I am the life."  Only because He is a divine person can Jesus rightly declare, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life."  

        We are all on a journey to the Father.  Jesus is the way to the Father.  St. Ambrose, who was so instrumental in leading St. Augustine to Jesus, spoke for many people when he said, "After we have traveled all ways, we shall come to the End of all ways.  We will come to him who says, 'I am the way.'"  Jesus is the way to the Father, because he alone, of all people who ever lived, came from the Father.  A little earlier in the Gospel of John (8:12) Jesus says, "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

        Jesus is also the truth about the Father.  In this day and age, when there is much confusion and doubt about God, what an incredible blessing it is to be able to turn to Jesus and learn the truth about God.  God is not some uncaring force.  God is a just, loving, and merciful Father.

        Not only is Jesus the "way" to the Father and the "truth" about the Father; he also contains within himself the very "life" of the Father.   Our journey is not just a journey in this life.  It is a journey into another life.  It is a journey into eternal life, where there will be no more death, no more grief, no more tears, no more pain, only the joy and love of God.  And we could never make that journey if we did not receive from Jesus Christ the seed of eternal life in baptism.  Through baptism, Jesus makes it possible for us to die to our own life of sin and to rise to a new life with him.

        Today Jesus declares to us, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life."  We cannot do without Jesus!  Without the Way there is no going!  Without the Truth there is no knowing!  Without the Life there is no living!      

Let me close with this prayer: 

Lord Jesus, you are The Way to the Father.  Help us pick up our cross daily, no matter how difficult it is, and follow you along that way.

Lord Jesus, you are The Truth about the Father.  Help us open our minds to that truth, that we may share it with so many who are still searching for it.

Lord Jesus, you are The Life of the Father.  Help us grow in that life and live it in such a way on earth as to rejoice with you forever in heaven.  AMEN.