The Way, the Truth and the Life

The Way, the Truth and the Life May 17, 2020

In the middle of a passionate conversation, Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you know me, then you will also know my Father.”  In these words, Jesus reveals a significant dimension of the Gospel that makes it unique.  Even though almost every Christian is familiar with these words, there is a profound reality expressed through them.  Throughout history, many wise men, healers, and philosophers have spoken and taught a particular way of thought or life.  They were proponents of a religion or philosophy that they encouraged others to embrace.  The Gospel Jesus preached however is different.

At its heart, the Gospel does not entail only imitating Jesus, but becoming one with Him.  Being obedient to the teachings of Jesus is not enough – it requires becoming one with Him.  The message in itself is not what saves, but rather it is the person of Jesus, the second person of the Trinity.  The message he preached is not the way, the truth and the life, but rather He is.  Jesus is the fullness of revelation, and it is in Him alone that we receive mercy and salvation.

When a doctor teaches students at a medical school, he imparts very important knowledge to them, and the students strive to imitate their professor, but nobody intends to be intimately united to the teacher.   The Gospel is an invitation to be grafted into Jesus Christ, and bringing about a complete transformation in believers.  In the same way that Jesus has taken on a human nature, the Gospel invites us to be united to the divine Godhead.  The words of Jesus, “I am the vine and you are the branches,” resound with this idea of becoming one with Jesus.

There is a beautiful 12th century mosaic in the Church of San Clemente in downtown Rome very close to the iconic Colosseum.  At the heart of the mosaic is the cross with Jesus hanging on it.  The cross stands in the middle of a significant plant from which grows a vine that extends throughout the whole apse of the church.  The vine is sprinkled with all sorts of animals and several saints.  The mosaic is a representation of the new tree of life in the middle of paradise.  Every being in the new heavens is grafted to the tree of life that is Jesus Himself.  It is a visual reminder that all creation has been redeemed by Christ and is intimately united to Him, including each one of us.

The same conversation between Jesus and his disciples began with the encouraging words from Jesus, “do not let your hearts be troubled.”  He is able to say this because regardless of the circumstances, Jesus remains united to those who believe in Him.  He promised it, and through the Sacraments of the Church, He grants us concrete moments of certainty that He is united to us.  United through baptism to His death and resurrection, our union with Jesus is where our eternal life hinges.

Picture is mine, all rights reserved.  Jerusalem, 2016.


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