HOMILY, 5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER

THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
Readings
1st: Acts 6:1-7
Psalms 33:1-2.4-5.18-19
2nd: 1peter 2:4-9
Accl. John 14:6
Gospel John 14:1-12

As the Lord Jesus was about to depart, he deemed it fit to console his disciples and prepare them for the hope that awaits them. He told them not to be troubled, and he promised that he was going ahead of them to prepare a place for them in his Father’s house.

” _When I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.”_

That was a positive vibrations coming from the master, but too deep for them to understand. How can one rejoice at what ones cannot comprehend? However, the humility and sincerity of Thomas earned him and his colleagues a fuller understanding of Jesus message. He said, ” _We do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?”_

Anytime we yield to pride, we loose the illumination that comes to those who have the humility to accept their ignorance. We equally run the risk of continuously living with our doubts. Thomas would not yield to that temptation. He asked question so as to salvage his ignorance.

The response of Jesus was categorical.

“I am the way, and the Truth and the Life
No one can come to the Father but by me”

An encounter with Jesus settles all our human longings. Our humble submission to him assuages our quests for succour. Our teachers, our priests, our religious books would only tell us something about him or leads us to him. Encountering him is the ultimate. It is like saying,

_Meeting me makes your journey shorter. It brings you directly to your destination. This means, if you believe me, in your life journey, I will be with you. I will guide you. I will protect you. You will never missed the path to your true life call. I will always communicate my will to you, because I’m the Truth._

As the Truth, the Lord does not promise us all truth about the divine mysteries, but all the body of knowledge we require to achieve our destiny. He promises us all we need to know to reach his Father. This knowledge is the knowledge of himself which comes to us when we take up his life. It comes when we imitate him. We know this by following the path of the cross with him. Because, we will not acquire the knowledge not only from what he is saying but from what he is doing.

” _Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me ; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.”_

Knowing the truth is to know the real character of the Lord. It is to embody his life style. The Psalmist says, “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.” (Psalm 86:11) Let us seek after life that reflects gospel teaching and the values of the way of Jesus.

Jesus is the Life. He is the author of life. He followed the way of suffering, even to the cross. God raised him from the dead. Dying with him means life because he himself will raise us to life by his own power. He says,

_”I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it abundantly.(_ John 10:9-10)

Let us journey with Jesus. Let us put our trust in him. Let us hope in his words. He has the Word of eternal life. He has the answers to our worries.

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God. Believe in Christ the Lord.

Peace be with you.

Rev Fr Femi Victor Orilua, CSSp.