ar Parishioners and Visitors,

This weekend, we hear Jesus describe himself in a beautiful and comprehensive way: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” These well-known words deserve our careful meditation.

Remembering that we were created so that we might become saints, we know that our life on earth is intended to be a journey towards heaven. Jesus, who is the way, shows us exactly how we are to travel on this journey. Every step that we take, we have the blessing of being able to ask not simply “What would Jesus do?” but rather “What did Jesus do?” The gospels, as well as the testimony given by his followers throughout the Acts of the Apostles, give us the lived example of the Son of God himself.He is the Way that guides us to heaven.

We live in a time when there is unprecedented access to information. The internet makes it possible for us to search for virtually anything we want to know, and immediately we receive more information than we could imagine. But how reliable, and how useful, will that information be? That depends on the source from which it comes. Jesus Christ is the Truth; thanks to the Incarnation, we have a living source of all the truth we need to know about God, whose eternal presence is our goal.

This journey towards heaven requires strength. We can’t do it on our own! And we don’t have to do it on our own. Jesus is the Life which begins in us when we are baptized, and continues to nourish and strengthen us in such a way that our hope for eternal life in heaven is a well-grounded hope. Eternal life has already begun in us, and that life has a name: Jesus.

Incidentally, this statement of Jesus is one of many statements of his in the gospel of John that begin with the words “I am.” Often, seven of these statements are listed by those who love John’s gospel:

• I am the bread of life. (John 6:35, 48)
• I am the light of the world. (John 8:12, 9:5)
• I am the gate for the sheep. (John 10:7, 9)
• I am the good shepherd. (John 10:11, 14)
• I am the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25)
• I am the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
• I am the true vine. (John 15:1, 5)

Each of these statements can be the starting point for rich, profound, and inspiring meditation on who Jesus is and what he gives to us. Yes, we are abundantly blessed!

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to tell you that there are lots of other places in John’s gospel where Jesus says “I am.” If you Google “Catholic resources I am,” you will be guided to a website that—again—will give you more information than you could have imagined. Enjoy!

Blessings,

Fr. Philip