As disciples, we should hold fast to Jesus, who said ‘I am the way and the truth and the life’
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Our readings from the Acts of the Apostles this week mark three shifts in the early Church: the shift to the inclusion of the Gentiles, the shift from the missionary tasks of St. Peter to the missionary journeys of St. Paul and the shift in what the disciples were called (“it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians”). That can help us think about a shift we’re called to make in our own time.
One of the prominent features of St. John’s Gospel is the seven “I am” statements of Jesus. We encounter three of them this week: I am the light of the world (John 8:12); I am the good shepherd (John 10:11); I am the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6).
The “I am” statements in John are like a diamond: They have many facets and they’re tremendously valuable for us! One of those facets, and a dimension of discipleship they call forth for us, is a response to the pervasive relativism we encounter in contemporary culture.
Jesus didn’t say: “Go out and live your best life.” He said: “Take up your cross and follow me.”
Jesus didn’t say “religions are different paths to one goal, choose the one that suits you.” He said: “No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jesus didn’t say: “Everyone has to speak their own truth.” He said: “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
Contemporary relativism often masks itself as humility. “Well, I can’t claim to know everything. So, I’ll just speak my truth.” The humility there is partially true! The problem is that it’s used as an on-ramp for something that’s false: the claim that there is no truth, or that we can’t know the truth.
How should a disciple respond to relativism? Not by abandoning humility in favor of hubris! Instead, we need to hold fast both to humility (because I don’t know everything) and to fidelity (because Jesus does).
This week we hear the Holy Spirit say: “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” That’s the beginning of St. Paul’s first missionary journey. We, too, have a missionary journey to make — within our own culture!
This week we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph the Worker (May 1). We, too, have work to do!
This week we hear St. Thomas lament: “Master, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?” Jesus’ response blazes the path of humility and fidelity: Thomas, you’re right about this — you don’t know everything about where I’m going. But you know me, and that’s enough. If you stay on the path with me, I’ll get you to the destination.
We can and should be humble, because we don’t know everything! At the same time we can and should reject relativism because we know Jesus, and He is the way and the truth and the life.
