Good Words To Think About
Contributed By: Rev. Helen O. Harper
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Rev. Harper is the Priest at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Niagara Falls, NY.
Luke 14:1-14
“. . . I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. . .”
We are all feeling uncertain about our lives these days, and we have lots unanswered and unanswerable questions. We had plans that have now been upended, and suspended. Our usual guidelines have been listed as provisional, temporary and subject to revision. We can’t help but ask ourselves how long will this last? When will we get out to gather, travel, work, normally. When will we feel safe again?
Our feelings of being off course without our usual makers is very real. Our longing for something unmovable and life-giving, solid, creative, concrete has become the norm. Even with all these realities God has given us a way that is steadfast when all else feels like sinking sand.
What is not up in the air, temporary, or uncertain is Jesus’ power to love us and be our guide through any uncertainty in our lives.
John 14:1-14 bears witness to this assurance no matter what is happening around us we have a footing. Jesus said: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life which means with him and through him there is a way forward. We might not be able to see the next step, but what this reading tells us is if we follow Jesus and depend on him, we will be able to move forward even when it appears we cannot. Even though it seems foolish to be able to move forward on ground that is constantly shifting beneath us, we nevertheless will be able to move forward with Jesus guiding us, and supporting us.
I am the Way, the Truth, and Life are all good words for us to think about when everything feels up in the air. What is not up in the air, temporary, or uncertain is Jesus’ power to love us and be our guide through any uncertainty in our lives. The reliability of Jesus, his love, and his ability to care for us through any situation should be comforting to us. Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life is a rock-solid promise that will keep us safe. Jesus and his promises is a firm foundation built upon living stones.
Rev. Helen O Harper
This is a Mashup or Monet’s paintings “Sunrise” and “The Truth of Nature”