Divine Mystery,
Jesus tried to prepare his disciples
for his leaving
by reassuring them
that they already knew the way
to where he was going.
Thomas responded,
(I think bravely),
that they did not know
where he was going,
so how could they possibly
be expected to
know the way?
Jesus told Thomas,
and all of us…
“I am the Way.”
But despite all the signposts
we have been given:
the Gospels,
the Eucharist,
the lives of the saints,
the unexpected glimpses of grace;
we tend to get waylaid
on our way to Jesus.
During some seasons of life,
there seems to be no road map.
No regularly updated
internal GPS.
So we find other ways.
We find ways to fret…
Which way should I go?
I need to change my ways.
I’m in a bad way.
I miss the way things used to be.
We do at times find ways to uplift others…
Way to go!
You’ll find a way.
She has a way about her.
That’s the way!
But we are just as good at finding ways to belittle others…
Get out of my way!
He’s always getting his way.
She’s on the way out.
You’re way out of line!
Even Frank Sinatra
did it his way.
When Jesus said
I am the Way,
it must have felt like
herding cats.
Most of us are
not terribly good at this.
Sometimes the way seems
less like a path
than it does a maze.
I’m grateful for Thomas’ unabashed,
clueless confusion.
It gives all of us
permission to
turn to You
in exasperation
and say,
How can I possibly
know the way?
In those times,
please remind us
to listen for the
small, still voice saying..
“Come, I am this way.”
Point to the constellations
and show us
where True North is
in this moment,
at this bend
in the exhilarating,
confounding,
and oh, so precious
maze of our lives.
AMEN
Comments