From the Deacon's Desk

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Readings: Acts 6:1-7 / 1 Peter 2:4-9 / John 14:1-12

I am not preaching today, but if interested the following is a homily I delivered BACK IN 2023 on the same readings we have today:

I have a confession to make. I am directionally challenged. I am not blessed with an innate ability to navigate. I struggle to find or take the best route to get somewhere. In addition, I routinely forget how to get somewhere despite having driven there multiple times.

The advent of GPS was a game-changer for me. I no longer had to print out Mapquest directions in large font and be the butt of my children’s sarcastic “old man” comments.

Now, I just use GPS. I don’t even have to try to remember how to get somewhere. Sure, I can get to school, the grocery, the ATM, St. Pius, and a few other key spots on my own, but the addresses to most other destinations need to be entered into my GPS. I have been to both Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Victory Field many times, but I still rely on GPS. My son has lived downtown for over two years; I still use GPS to get to his house.

This deficiency amuses my wife to no end. Carol was born with the navigation gene. She only needs to glance at directions quickly or drive somewhere once and it is permanently locked in. There are even times it appears as though she can somehow sense where the destination is and navigate her way there.

This magical ability of hers is both a blessing and a curse for me. If she is driving, it’s awesome; I can sit back and relax. If she is in the passenger seat, it can be annoying. As I drive, she asks questions such as, “Oh, you’re going to go this way?” or “You know you could have turned there, right?”

This is particularly bothersome after I have finally established a regular route – a route I have driven so many times I no longer need the GPS. When I get to that point, that is my route for life. Carol will inform me that another route is quicker or avoids traffic, but saving a few minutes or encountering fewer cars is not worth giving up the peace of mind or the confidence I experience knowing I will get to my final destination.

My reflection on this inability to navigate came to mind thanks to the conversation between Jesus and Thomas in today’s passage from the Gospel of John:

Jesus said, “Where I am going you know the way.”

Thomas responded, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”

To which Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

Jesus assured Thomas, “You know the way.” If Jesus had been talking to someone like Carol, that person would have said, “You’re right. I’ve been paying attention to everything you’ve taught us.” Or, “Agreed. You’ve given us directions many times.”

Unfortunately for Jesus, he was talking to Thomas, who was more like me. Jesus had already shown his disciples the way, explained why it was the right path, and even offered to go with them. Despite those efforts, Thomas was still uncertain; he lacked confidence and was unable to completely trust in himself or in Jesus.

Fortunately for Thomas, all was not lost. Jesus became his GPS, saying, “I am the way.” In other words, “Walk toward me.”

When it comes to our faith, Jesus is our GPS as well, encouraging us to walk toward him. If we do that – whether we are directionally challenged or were born with the navigation gene – we can be confident we are on the right path. We simply need to enter the correct destination into the GPS.

The bottom-line question becomes: Is toward Jesus where we want to go? Is unconditional love, mercy, and eternal life our definitive destination? As baptized Christians, that should be our destination. We know Jesus is the way.

However, there are many alternate routes and seemingly desirable options.

Maybe we are drawn to the bright lights and false promises of the secular world. Maybe there is a smoother road, easier to traverse with fewer inclines and less challenging terrain. Or maybe we’re simply worn out and that upcoming short-cut looks inviting.

Ultimately, where we end up is based on what we enter into the GPS. Or, in the language of computer science, “garbage in, garbage out.” The purity of the input will determine the purity of the output.

There is no getting around it, we will face adversity on our faith journey. Perhaps the most dangerous obstacles we will encounter are the billboards along the side of the road — billboards that boldly proclaim there is something better. They are intended to distract us. They want us to leave the road we’re on. They represent the ultimate battle between temporary things and eternal things, flesh versus spirit, immediate gratification versus delayed glory.

The problem with billboards is they offer much and deliver little. The small amount of pleasure they deliver lasts only until the next billboard catches our eye. There is billboard after billboard calling us off the path that leads to Jesus.

We are all subject to distraction. Whether we are distracted one time or multiple times, we are all capable of veering off course. Sinners and saints and everyone in-between have had moments of uncertainty, times when their faith was shaken and their trust in Jesus was put into question. No one wants to face adversity, but it is part of the journey.

However, adversity has an upside. It has a way of stripping away all that is not essential. We are left standing there with Jesus, who invites us to begin anew.

Jesus did not say, “I am one of many attractive options.” He said, “I am THE way and THE truth and THE life.” We must ask ourselves: What are we willing to endure in order to follow Jesus? If being welcomed by him is not our end game, we can avoid the struggle altogether – by just punching different coordinates into the GPS.

My faith and my driving habits have many similarities. I’ve been on the right path many times, but have also veered off in the wrong direction at times. I’ve been told how to get to my destination, I feel as though I understand the directions, and I even have GPS available to me. However, I still drive as though I don’t know the way, and I get lost.

I really shouldn’t have to rely on Jesus, my faith GPS, to provide directions. I have sixty-three years of experience and should be able to navigate on my own. However, it is comforting to know he is always there and available.

He not only knows the way, he is the way.