He is the Way

The Collect of the Day for the Fifth Sunday of Easter has built into it a remarkably familiar passage from the Gospel of John: Jesus said to the disciples, “And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to Jesus, “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.” (John 14:4-6) This is part of the passage we hear as the Gospel in “Year A” in our three-year cycle of Sunday lessons. We are in “Year B” so this Collect will not match the Gospel reading this year. It is still worth giving attention to the deep message here.

When Jesus tells his followers, they know the way to the place where he is going, it becomes clear he indeed does not refer to a place but a relationship. The person of Jesus is the way. As Jesus says elsewhere, if we abide in him, we are one with the source of life. With him, are where you need to be. We should consistently emphasize the relational connection that is core to our faith. The hardships of life can be so isolating, and Jesus heals us by helping us to know our union with him. Knowing that union, helps us know our connection to others and to all that belongs to God.

Realizing the mystical side of Christianity is so important to us. Through this lens of faith, we open our eyes to encountering God. We are looking not to an outline of concepts but our experience of the Holy One. Look at the Collect that grafts in the language of “way, truth, and life”:

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

You see, we are not seeking to know things about Jesus, historically, literarily, or even theologically, as much as we are seeking to know Jesus—the way, truth, and life, and to follow his ways. Jesus will grant you an experience of his presence through the agency of the Holy Spirit. This is the heart of the Christian mystical tradition.

Look at what George Herbert, English poet, and priest of the 17th century, did with this material. It shows up in our hymnal, (# 487) to the Ralph Vaughan Williams tune named The Call:

Come, my way, my truth, my life:
such a way, as gives us breath;
such a truth, as ends all strife;
such a life as conquers death.

Come, my light, my feast, my strength:
such a light as shows a feast;
such a feast as mends in length;
such a strength as makes his guest.

Come, my joy, my love, my heart:
such a joy as none can move;
such a love as none can part;
such a heart as joys in love.

—George Herbert, 1633

How gorgeous! He relates to God from the heart and refers to God as his: way/truth/life, his light/feast/strength, his joy/love/heart. It is such a love song to God. Let’s face it: When it comes to God, it is all about love. It moves me that Herbert “joys in love, because for him, God is self-revealed as “heart”. We can all deepen the sense of the divine that Jesus is wanting to deepen within us through the spirit. He is the way, and he calls us emphatically to abide, abide, abide in him.