Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”

 

Gospel Reading: John 14:6-14

 

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him,  “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? 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 speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

 

I am sure that at some time in our lives we have all asked the question, “Where in the world is Heaven?” Or possibly, “How do I find heaven?”  The Apostles want to see the Father because the Father is heaven.  But Jesus tells them, “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.”  Heaven is standing right before them and yet they do not see it.  Ancient tradition has heaven in the skies and hell down below.  These concepts of heaven and hell were taken from ancient mythology.  In reality, heaven and hell are both here on earth and are all around us.  Jesus tells us that he is the way, the truth and the light that he will lead us to heaven on earth.  John’s gospel tells us that the earth is darkness and that Jesus comes to bring us the saving light.  Heaven is right here right now.  We find heaven when we find Jesus.  Jesus is the compass that will direct us to where we want to go.  “A highway will be there, called the holy way; No one unclean may pass over it, nor fools go astray on it.” (Isaiah 35:8)  When we direct our lives toward Jesus, we find heaven and we find the light.  We are building the kingdom of heaven on earth in our actions or charity and love for our fellow neighbor because “whoever believes in me will do the works that I do”.  Why wait until tomorrow to experience the joy that the Lord Jesus Christ can bring to you today.  In your daily activities, you are called to evangelize and bring Christ out to others.  We have the responsibility to lead others to the way, the truth and light.  When we bring others to Christ in our works, we fulfill our mission on earth.  Our judgment day occurs every day.  As we examine our souls, we judge ourselves; we make sure that we are worthy to walk along the Holy Way.  Which highway are you on?  Jesus has lit the way; he wants to draw you into his arms.  He wants you to bring the people you encounter everyday along with you.  Today’s Gospel gives us the good news that we do not have to wait to find heaven, that we will find heaven in him and through him.  More importantly, we can bring the kingdom of heaven to everyone we meet.  Rejoice, today for the Lord Jesus Christ is among us.  His salvation is today.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Most Glorious Risen Christ,

Fill my life with your saving grace.

Help me find the way and identify the truth.

You are my way, my truth and my light.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon