Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him. ”Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied. ”Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Today’s passage from John is a beautifully simple, yet powerful, illustration of Jesus’ humanity. As a basic oversimplification, it is a passage in which Jesus Christ is talking to his friends about his Father. As he tells his friends, “If you know me, then you will also know my Father.” Five years ago today, a very dear friend of mine lost his father. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting my friend’s father, in a way, I feel like I have come to known him through his son – a man of tremendous faith, goodness, kindness, humility, compassion, and humor. Just as I have come to know a man I have never met through his son, it is through Jesus that we come to know our heavenly Father. A Father of tremendous mercy, grace, compassion, forgiveness, and infinite, unconditional love. A Father who is our way, our truth, and our life. A Father who is glorified in his Son.
—Jackie Lesiak is the Assistant Principal for Professional Development and teaches World History at Creighton Prep.
God, our Father, You are the way, the truth, the life
Without the way there is no going
Without the truth there is no knowing
Without the life there is no growing
Show us the way, that we may go
Teach us the truth, that we may know
Grant us the life, that we may grow
Eternally.
Theodore J. (Ted) Tracy, S.J.
Please share the Good Word with your friends!
