Word to the Wise
Friday, May 8, 2009 - Friday in the Fourth Week of Easter
[Acts 13:26-33 and John 14:1-6]"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."
This famous and often misused passage from the Gospel of John brings us face to face with the mysterious mercy, wisdom and providence of God. For those who are fond of securing their own position and making sure that they are right and anyone holding a different opinion or belief is wrong, this passage has provided false comfort. Jesus did not come to establish a country club with restricted membership! Given the regular misunderstanding the disciples showed about Jesus' mission and identity, could any of us claim to do any better, even with the 2000 years of reflection and meditation by the Church. We can only be sure that we are guided by the Holy Spirit through the church, but we cannot claim the exclusive ownership of the truth or of the Holy Spirit! At the same time, it might help us to reflect on the fact that there are events and people who have an impact on our lives whom we have never met or may never even know about. This does not change the fact that these persons or events are real. It simply means we don't know about them for any number of reasons. Or we may hear about them and doubt, as did the disciples! None of this changes the reality of the saving event. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Whatever salvation God offers has come through Jesus Christ. Millions have never known him or his life or his message. We must accept God's way of reaching them through the definitive event of Christ. This, too, may be something that we will never know other than that we who believe in Jesus may count ourselves fortunate but also challenged, lest we claim to have power over the eternal salvation of others by imprudent declarations based on misunderstanding of the scriptures. AMEN
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