Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

We are at the climax of Jesus’ life. Though the disciples may not have realized it, this was the last meal they would have with Jesus before he was put to death. He had already told them that he was about to be betrayed. Jesus had also informed them that he was leaving them and going where they could not go now (but would go later). They are worried, filled with anxiety about the future. No wonder their hearts were troubled. Jesus sees that their hearts were already breaking and comforts them by telling them to trust in his person. Jesus says, “Trust me, I am the way. Trust my person; this is who I am. I will take you to my Father’s house.”

Were assurances like these given us by an ordinary person, we might well doubt. However, when they come from the One who has loved us enough to give his life for us, they take on a different meaning. It is the sacrificial love of Jesus that grounds our faith. That reality is what fills our lives with trust in Jesus, in his teachings, his example.

This is what we celebrate in every Mass. We come to appreciate more and more the life and teachings of Jesus. This faith and love that we share so frequently are what ground our hope in the promises of Jesus. Our constant reflection on the Lord helps us to deepen our trust in Christ’s promises and fills us with his peace.

Do I truly see Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life? How do I keep this trust alive?

Let Us Pray:

Lord, how can my heart be troubled when you promise so clearly that you are preparing a place for me in heaven, that you are truly the way, truth, and life. Let not life’s distractions and sufferings weaken my trust in you.