HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF EASTER
THEME: JESUS IS ALL WE NEED.
BY: Fr. Karabari Paul
HOMILY FOR TUESDAY MAY 3 2022
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.”
In the Gospel of today (John 14:6-14), Jesus makes a statement that contains more truth than is found in the combined libraries of humanity – and that is no emotional fantasy but a stark statement of factual reality. What we desire is to know the true Way guided by the eternal Truth and then Life will be ours. But these are not separated elements for salvation. They are all Jesus Himself.
Jesus did not simply say He would show us the way, but that He IS The Way. He is the one and only way for fallen man to get to the Father. And the way Jesus had to travel to that pivotal point in the history of the world, was the way of the cross of Calvary, where His shed blood and selfless sacrifice, shattered the immovable barrier between sinful man and a holy God. Yes! Jesus IS the one and only Way – and it is non-negotiable!
Jesus did not say He would tell us some truths, but that He IS incarnate Truth. He is the personification of truth. Everything that is not of Christ is a lie, a deception, a distortion of truth, a half-truth, or a partial truth. Without JESUS we do not know where to go. Without Jesus, we do not know what is the truth, and without Jesus, there is no way to live life or to face death.
Jesus is the eternal God. He is a life-giving Spirit. He is the Man who willingly shed His own innocent blood as the full and final payment for the sin of the world – for without the shedding of blood there is no redemption! He is the only man qualified to rise from the dead. The wages of sin is death, but He was the sinless Man. Only Jesus was equipped to answer Thomas’ question, and tell His disciples, “I AM the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Jesus Christ is the Truth Who opens up our understanding of God and gives us knowledge of God – a truth that confounds the wisdom of man and a truth that silences all the presuppositions of prideful humanity. Jesus not only teaches the truth, but He is incarnate Truth. He is the personification of Truth – for truth can only be found in Christ, Who is the embodiment of all Truth.
Jesus Christ is the Life, Who breathes His own resurrected life into a fallen man. Christ is the Source of all spiritual life and in Him is eternal life for all who trust in His redemptive work. Jesus is the way which every one of us must follow. Jesus is the truth in whom we must believe. Jesus is the life in whom we have our hope. And Jesus said – NO ONE comes to the Father but through Me. There is no other way to God; no other truth about God; and no other life apart from God. Christ’s claim is exclusive. The one and only way, truth, and life is Jesus. No other path, no other philosophy, and no other gospel leads the sinner to God the Father, tells the truth about Him, and gives us His eternal life – other than Jesus. And this is a non-negotiable fact. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God bless you and your household always through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning.
Fr. Karabari Paul