DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO GOD?

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER. YEAR A.
April 20, 2008.
(First reading: Acts 6:1-7) (Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19)
Second reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9) (Gospel reading: John 14:1-12)


DO YOU KNOW
THE WAY TO GOD?

There is a human being who knows the answer to this question because he comes from God: Jesus, true man and true God, who comes from the Father and to him he returns, taking us along with him. "So that where I am you also may be" (John 14:3) says Jesus.

Once we come to know Jesus (the Way) we must make the decision to follow the God who has taken human form in order for us to reach our destination (where we are going).

Throughout history human beings have systematically refused to follow the Way that leads to God; men's rejection of the God-made-man (Jesus) is based not so much in their refusal to accept God as in their refusal to accept human beings.

Although, Jesus demonstrated his divine nature by doing the works of his Father, people rejected the fact that a man could possess God's nature. The pagan world into which Jesus came 21 centuries ago did not accept him as the Way to God; and the pagan world in which we now live continues to do the same.

Why does the world reject the notion that a human being becomes the Way to God? Because our world exploits, mistreats, destroys human beings; thus it becomes unacceptable that he who is subject of exploitation, destruction and mistreatment may even remotely share the divine nature, let alone be the Way to God.

Therefore, Jesus becomes the Way by restoring human beings to their lost dignity of being the image of God, by freeing them from exploitation, lies, destruction and oppression. In order to reveal that he is the Way, Jesus does the following:
1. He presents himself as the image of the Father: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9); and

2. He shows us that there is no other way to arrive to the Father; "No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father" (John 14:6-7).

To believe in Jesus means to believe that through his humanity he leads human beings to the Father.
The saving power of Jesus consists in bringing human beings back to the Father as liberated people, as people who have regained their ability to live in justice and peace. This is the fulfillment of the work of Jesus: He is the Way that leads back to the Father.

How do we return to the Father?
By living as liberated human beings, liberated from injustice, lies and death; by allowing the living Jesus to grow in us; by allowing his humanity to lead us to the Father.

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles describes the type of human life which leads to the Father: When "the Hellenist complained against the Hebrews... the twelve called together the community... [proposed a solution, and] the proposal was acceptable to the whole community" (Acts 6:1-6).

The peaceful, just and rational approach to resolving human conflicts, differences, antagonisms or disagreements is the way of life for people to grow in the life of the Lord Jesus, is the way that leads to the Father.

On the contrary, resorting to oppression, lies, injustice and war only leads to death, to the rupture of the Way that leads to the Father and, to the separation of men from God(1).

The risen Jesus, alive in humanity, persistently reminds us that we will be able to move along the Way that leads to the Father only when we live in peace, justice, truthfulness and unity with one another(2).
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Footnotes:
(1) Any one who relates to other human beings through injustice, oppression or destruction is rejecting the "cornerstone" of the building of God. The First Letter of Peter tells us: "like living stones, let yourselves be build into [the Lord's] house".
(2) It is with "living stones" - human beings living in peace and justice and unity - that the "dwelling places" of heaven are built.