Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading 
John 14:1–7

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (NRSV)

Reflection

John 14:1–7 is a powerful passage in which Jesus speaks to his disciples about his relationship with God and the way to eternal life. In this passage, Jesus tells his disciples not to be troubled or afraid, but to trust in God and in him, as he is the way, the truth, and the life.

Jesus came to reveal God to us in a way that we can understand and follow. He lived his life in total solidarity with humanity, and as a Divine Being, showing us what it means to live a life of love, compassion, and service. He taught us that the way to eternal life is through his way, as he is the embodiment of God's love and grace. This is the way of matter and spirit operating as one, as Richard Rohr writes in one of his devotions for CAC (Center for Action and Contemplation). It is the way of living a conscious and loving life that allows God’s love to flow through us to others.

I have often found this passage to be difficult because it is often interpreted as Jesus, the exclusive gatekeeper to God the Father. Yet throughout his ministry, Jesus' way is inclusive and welcoming to all people, regardless of their background or status in life. He demonstrated this by reaching out to the marginalized and oppressed, and by breaking down the barriers that divide us such as race, gender, and social status.

As we look at the Bible, the world, and God, Jesus as spirit and matter is the lens through which we can see the truth and beauty of God's creation, and the key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe. By following his way, we can experience the fullness of life and the joy of living in harmony with God, the earth, and with one another.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, Thank you for loving and showing us how to live. May we follow the way of love, not fear, inclusion, not exclusion, as both matter and spirit. With love and gratitude, Amen.

Written by Susan Schemper, Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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