Reflection from Deacon Russ for 5th Sunday of Easter

When we plan a vacation, we usually focus on where we are going – our destination – rather than the route we will take to get there. There is a little bit of that going on in today’s Gospel. Jesus begins by talking about dwelling places and how he is going to prepare a place for his disciples. And then he says something that I think is a little puzzling. He says, “Where I am going you know the way.” Notice that he doesn’t say, “Where I am going you know the place.” No, Jesus takes the conversation in a somewhat different direction, moving from talking about a destination to talking about a journey – a way. And when Thomas inquires about this way, Jesus utters some of the most profound words in all of Scripture – “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

And the way is the journey of faith, of discipleship, of living with and in God. Living in God is not only about the destination, no matter how important that destination may be. It is also about the journey, the path, the means through which we experience life to the fullest, the “way.” It is being called out of darkness into light. And for us Christians, the way is a person, the Lord Jesus in whom we put our faith and trust. For many of us, faith and belief, at one time or another in our lives, has been difficult. It certainly has been a challenge the past few months. It is often hard for us to spend our life coming to the kind of belief that truly shows us the way. Perhaps faith is challenging when we focus too much on the “what” we believe. But it’s also about the “how” – the continual journey of taking steps in faith wherever Jesus leads us, knowing perfectly well that at times we will mess up and need to be forgiven, at times we will become broken and wounded and need to be healed, and at times we will be confused and uncertain and will need to be comforted and reassured. Perhaps you have been there. I know I have. That’s the journey of faith. That’s the pattern of our lives. That’s what it means to travel the WAY.

“I am the way.” Jesus’ way is not very appealing: dying to ourselves, sacrificing for the sake of others, carrying crosses. The good news is that we follow Jesus’ way in less dramatic, everyday ways – our simple acts of reaching out to others, alleviating their suffering, meeting their needs and showering them with love, even with social distancing. We learn how to believe by seeing others believe; we learn how to love from being loved, from seeing love in action. It’s as simple and profound as that. And if we get on the wrong way, take a different path, Jesus is always there to call us back.

I think this a great Gospel as we celebrate Mother’s Day. For most of us, our mothers are the first ones to show us the way, the truth and the life. Our mothers give us life; her love gets to us and is the first concrete lesson we have in love. Our mothers show us the way, guiding us to whatever destination we may be headed. And our mothers instill truth in us. When our kids were small and slipped off the way, we told them, “Tell us the truth and you won’t get punished.” But it goes further. Mother’s Day is a celebration of all those persons, parents or not, who nourish or cherish others and teach them the meaning of love. It’s just that mothers are usually the most evident, most visible, most endearing teachers and that’s why we honor them today, remember them and their concrete examples of faith and love. Motherhood is a natural part of God’s creative plan to bring love and caring to light, and for that we are grateful to all mothers.

But it’s not just mothers. As we have said, all of us, no matter where we are on the journey of faith, are called to die to self and reach out in love to others. When we do that, our marriages are more joyful, our homes are more joyful, our neighborhoods are more joyful, our church is more joyful. And so, if you have a wife or husband who loves you unselfishly and accepts you as you are, who does things so you don’t have to, give thanks to God for such a precious gift and return that selfless love. If you have parents who are always there for you, who sit in a cold rain to watch you play football or soccer, who would literally die for you, give thanks for such a precious gift and treat them with that same selfless love. If you have children who love and respect you, who do dishes or mow the lawn without even being asked, praise God for such a precious gift and continue to love them no matter what the future holds. If you have a brother or sister or friend who is always there for you, who give up their wish to help fulfill yours, treasure that gift and always be there for them. If you are part of a community that is rooted in faith and in love, even when we can’t be together, be thankful for such a gift and nourish that community with your own faith and love.

This life matters – all of it – the complexities, the messiness, the struggles, the triumphs, and the sorrows. So let’s embrace the journey of faith, realizing that our final destination, life with God for all eternity, is immensely important. But so are the little things, the small steps we take along the way. This has been a rough couple of months for most of us. Like Thomas, we ask “Where are we going.” Sometimes we really don’t know. But we do believe that Jesus is with us, that he is our comfort, our strength, our guide. He indeed is the way, the truth and the life.