Lent: Day 23

Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. You know where I go, and you know the way.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the works I do. Whoever believes in me will do the works I do, and greater works than these, because I am going to my Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it. 

Reflection

 

It is hard to imagine any more outlandish claim than saying you are the only way to God and whoever has seen you has seen God. Such claims indicate a person who is certifiably crazy, a world-class liar, or someone unlike anyone else who ever lived. Are there other options? Is the choice clear to you? 

Prayer: Forgive me, Lord, for thinking I could ever ignore the claims you made.