Pentecostal 50 Days – 5th Sunday – The Way, The Truth, and The Life
On this Sunday, the Fifth Sunday of Pentecost (Pashons 22), the Church reads an account from the Gospel of John, in which Christ describes Himself as “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:1-11). This passage emphasizes the importance of trusting and having steadfast faith in God during times of tribulation.
Prior to saying this, Christ had informed the disciples that one of them will betray Him and that another one will deny Him three times. The disciples were very anxious because of this. As Father Tadros Malaty explains, “Anxiety is often the result of fear of the unknown, or due to the expectation of a great loss that would affect the soul, body, or possessions. The cure for anxiety is to have faith.” In order to comfort the disciples, Christ gives encouraging words on how through Him, all obstacles can be overcome.
Christ begins by saying, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). Notice how Christ makes a direct connection between anxiety and believing in God. When we are anxious, we must look to God to give us the strength and courage to overcome difficult times. As St. John Chrysostom explains, “…the Lord intends to say that ‘all these difficulties will surely pass away since by having faith in Me and in My Father you become far more powerful than all the hardships that you will encounter. That faith will shield you from being conquered by any evil.” A belief in God is the antidote to the anxiety in our lives, and Christ encourages his disciples to have unconditional faith, especially with the difficulties that they were going to face.
Christ also emphasizes the importance of looking to the heavenly rather than the worldly. He tells the disciples, “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3). In the original Greek translation, the term “take you” or “receive you” is paralēmpsomai, which is a term that indicates a great love, attraction, and yearning. Thus, Christ is saying that He yearns for us to be with Him because of His love and that if we reciprocate that love and trust, we will be with Him for eternity. The world may give temporary comfort and joy, but the only way to eternal comfort and joy is through Him.
The Lord simplifies His teaching to one simple message, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Through Him we find the way to salvation, the one true faith, and the promise of eternal life. St. Augustine warns us saying, “Every person seeks the truth and the life, yet not everyone finds the way.” Thankfully, we have been given the way to salvation through Christ’s death on the Cross. Let us unite ourselves with Him so that we can gain eternal comfort and joy in paradise.
Lord, I am weak and in need of Your mercy, grace, and love at all times. Please strengthen me during my tribulations and open my eyes so that I constantly see that You are all that I need. You are the way, the truth, and the life, and through You, I find the comfort that I seek. Amen.