The Way of Christ

Easter continues as we celebrate the 5th and 6th Sundays of this season. We hear in the Gospels the reality of the Trinity, as the father is known by the son; the son is the face of the father; and the Holy Spirit is the giver of life. Christ the Lord dwells within and among the faithful. Those who choose to follow as disciples are called to be vigilant, hopeful and trust in God’s plan, to closely obey the Ten Commandments and follow Jesus, who is the “way, the truth and the life.”

I am the way (Jn 14:1-12)

Jesus is the “way” to the father. He is the way of mercy, as he took on our sins, died to release us from the bondage of sin and resurrected, giving new life in the father through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the way of hope. He assures the apostles (and us) that he will never abandon those who love him. In fact, he promises to prepare a place for those who love the father through him. This “dwelling place” is our eternal home, our destiny, heaven. Jesus is the way to the father. Those who see him, see the father. Those who know him, know the father. Those who love him and keep the commandments, love the father and honor his way. Through faith we see how Jesus’ entire life shows us the heart of the father and his love for the world (Catechism of the Catholic Church #516).

I am the truth

Jesus is “the truth.” We read in the catechism, “In Jesus Christ, the whole of God’s truth has been made manifest. ‘Full of grace and truth,’ he came as the ‘light of the world.’ ” He is the truth. “Whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” The disciples of Jesus continue in his word so as to know “the truth (that) will make you free” and that sanctifies. To follow Jesus is to live in “the Spirit of truth,” whom the father sends in his name and who leads “into all the truth.” To his disciples Jesus teaches the unconditional love of truth: “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes or No.’ ”

I am the life

We read in the documents from the Second Vatican Council, “When the work of the son was accomplished the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that he might continually make holy the church, and that those who believe might have access through Christ in one Spirit to the father. He is the Spirit of life, the fountain of water springing up to eternal life. The father gives life through him. He guides the church in the way of all truth, in unity, in works of ministry and renews and protects her in perfect union with Jesus” (Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, para. 4). Through the Spirit, Jesus breathes life into his church, calling us to an intimate union with the father. Empowered by this life, we are renewed and transformed. This new life comes to us in a most particular way through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist through which Christ gives the gift of eternal life beginning here and now. This great mystery is united to the mystery of God’s plan for salvation through Jesus’ Passion, death and resurrection.

Dr. Scott Hahn writes, “When we eat a hamburger or pizza or an apple, that hamburger or pizza or apple becomes part of us. We assimilate it into our bodies. But when we consume the body and blood of Jesus in holy Communion, the exact opposite happens. Instead of us assimilating Jesus into our bodies, he assimilates us into his body. He doesn’t become part of our body. We become part of his body.  It is through this mysterious exchange of grace that the Eucharist becomes the instrumental cause of our resurrection. It works in our souls as both food and medicine, feeding us with God’s life, healing our souls of the effects of venial sin and making us, day by day, into saints. It is the Eucharist that nourishes our souls, strengthens our commitment to living lives of grace and unites us to our fellow believers, forming us corporately into the body of Christ.

“Lastly, it is the Eucharist that imbues our mortal bodies with the capacity to be divinized and glorified and resurrected in the body of Christ. As the catechism puts it, the Eucharist is “the seed of eternal life and the power of resurrection” (CCC 1524).  (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, Article: The Eucharist and the Resurrection of the Body, April 29, 2020)

Keeping God’s commandments (Jn 14: 15-21)

We hear during the Sixth Sunday of Easter Jesus say to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments … Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

Part Three of the catechism focuses on life in Christ.  In light of our faith and participation the sacraments we are called to follow the “way, truth and life” of Christ, obeying the commandments and living the beatitudes.  The former is the basis of how to love and the latter is the disposition for love. The love of the Lord is the wellspring of life and expands our capacity to respond to the truth in Christ and the desire to follow the way of Jesus. This is not always easy, but it is possible, if we believe.

Do we live in the truth of our Lord? Are we freely sharing the truth to others with humility, love and mercy? How do we come to know the truth? What is truth? The best place to begin is to ask God to help you discover the truth.  A good place to start is with the Bible with a good commentary to help reveal the truth of God’s Word.

As we prepare for Pentecost Sunday ask for the openness to embrace the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life. Ask for an increase of the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, fortitude, wonder, good counsel, understanding and piety. Added to these are the fruits of the Holy Spirit:  charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity, which further strengthens us to keep God’s commandments and love ever-more deeply. The closer we are to the Holy Spirit the more we come to know the father through Jesus Christ and are equipped to follow “the way, the truth and the life.” Come Holy Spirit, Come!

Dow is director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.