Posted by The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr. Alan Meechan SVD – Barcenaga, Oriental Mindoro
Friday 4th Week of Easter
Some fifteen years ago in southern Mindoro, two of us went up the mountain to a Hanunoo Mangyan tribal village to bless a new school. We were soon completely lost and confronted with a myriad of different paths that we could take.
As we climbed up through the forest Lorna, my companion, who was a long time Mangyan mission worker and who seemed to know everybody, was forever asking, Pag sitay ang dalan? (Is this the right road?) With the help of many people, including some friendly soldiers who apparently were not members of the regular army, we finally reached our destination.
The attitude Pag sitay ang dalan is not enough, however. It is as if we were completely in charge of our own lives and able to decide which option to take, with regard only to our own particular situation and interest. The truth would be only the truth as we see it, and the life would be our life, over which we were the sole arbitrators. With this attitude we would simply get lost on the way, even with the help of others.
In his teaching today Paul puts Christ in the foreground for all of us in our lives. Jesus is not simply a crutch to help us get over the hurdle of death and resurrection. He did not merely say he is the way, rather like a plane ticket, that will enable us to get to heaven. He stressed that he is the way, the truth and life, another form of trinity, one single reality and totality in our lives.
Thomas and the other disciples did in fact know the way, they knew Jesus. Do I know Jesus? I must always try to get to know him better. However, after twenty-two years in the priesthood I know that, in spite of everything I am on the right road. If I keep to it, even though I do stray at times, if I am faithful and true to Christ and to myself, and always try to move closer to him, I will not be lost.
One comment