Find our way

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Today we are going to listen to another passage from the Gospel of John. In John’s Gospel, Jesus makes seven statements about himself, amongst them the one we will hear today. These “I am” phrases show more clearly the divinity of Jesus. Jesus says, “I am the bread of life” (Jn 6, 35), “I am the light of the world” (Jn 8, 12), “I am the gate for the sheep” (Jn 10, 7), “I am the good shepherd” (Jn 10, 11), “I am the resurrection and the life” (Jn 11, 25), “I am the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14, 6), “I am the true vine” (Jn 15 1). This “I am” phrase takes us back to the Old Testament, when God revealed his name to Moses; God had said “I am who I am.” And now, in John’s Gospel, Jesus uses the same words.

Today, Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Although we are during Easter Time, and we have celebrated Jesus rising from the dead, the passage of today’s Gospel, is from the Last Supper. Judas had just left, and Jesus was explaining to the disciples that soon, he would be leaving them.

For Jesus to be our “way,” we need to trust him. To trust someone, we first need to get to know him. Jesus tells us that if we know him, we also know the Father. Jesus tells the disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them in heaven. We were created, so that after this life, we enjoy eternal life with God. This is what should lead us, this is against what we should appraise our decisions. We are to live in such a way that after this life we can be with God in heaven. Jesus told us that we know the way. It is now up to us if are to walk from this path.

The Son of God became man, to show us how to live, so that he could be our model. Jesus showed us the way. This Gospel encourages us, it also guides us. How are we to be at peace, when the world we live in is creating such tension? “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” This is the solution Jesus gives us. We are to trust God and trust Jesus. We are to turn to God; we turn to Jesus in the challenges we face. We believe that life does not end with death, we will enjoy eternity with God, and Jesus confirmed this when he said, “in my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” In heaven, there is a place for everyone, but we need to make an effort to arrive in our eternal home. Our live needs to reflect what we believe, it needs to reflect the teachings of Jesus, and the teachings of the Church. In other words, we are to allow Jesus to be our way, we need to listen to the truth he tells us and live according to his will.

At the end of this passage, Jesus says, “whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these.” How can someone do greater works than Jesus? Most probably, what Jesus is saying, is that his public life was short, he did not go to many places, his ministry was limited only to Palestine. However, many did much more than this. St Paul, for example, went to different countries to preach the word of Jesus Christ, St Francis Xavier, went to Africa and India, and it is said that he baptised over 30,000 people! Mother Theresa too lived most of her life passing on Jesus’ love and mercy to the poorest of the poor. Pope John Paul II was a witness to Jesus, up to the end of his life, even in his sickness. Like these we can mention many others. This means that, what Jesus did, was continued and is being continued by many others. We too are called to continue Jesus’ work: love others, help those in need, communicate Jesus’ hope to those who need it, live in communion with those around us.

A reading from the Gospel of John (Jn 14, 1-12) 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.”

Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel story is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. In today’s Gospel reading, we saw the disciples who were confused, with what Jesus was telling them. Jesus did not want this, and he tells them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled!” What is troubling you, what is taking away your peace of mind? Stop and listen to Jesus saying these same comforting words to you. Jesus knows your doubts and uncertainties, he wants you to know that he is with you. Just as he wanted the disciples to trust in him, he wants you to do the same.
  4. How can you increase your faith in Jesus?
  5. Commit yourself to daily prayer and time of reflection. Tell Jesus that you trust in him and you want him to show you the way. Ask Jesus to lead you, especially during those times of darkness or uncertainty.
  6. Together with your family find the right time to read this Gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare;
    i. The Bible reading from  St John (14, 1-12)
    ii. a candle
    iii. Cover the table with a white cloth
    iv. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  7. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested).
  8. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  9. Be creative 😊 
  10. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family. 

Have you ever seen your parents using a map on their mobile phones, or a GPS? Why do they use them? (to find their way) In today’s Gospel, we are going to hear, that we all need the same map, because we are all going to the same place! Let us listen to the Gospel to see which map we are to use, and where we are to arrive.

  • Jesus shows us and tells us, how to arrive in heaven
  • Printout of today’s picture
  • Colours
activityDownload

Your parents and others, use the map or GPS to arrive to the place they wish, since they would not know how to arrive. Today, Jesus is also going to speak to us about a way, however the disciples did not really understand what Jesus wanted to say. In fact, Thomas, was rather worried, because Jesus told them, that he would be leaving them, and that they would also be joining him, because “where I am going you know the way.” This mixed-up Thomas, really bad, since neither he, nor his friends, knew where Jesus was going! So how could they go near him?

Where do you think, Jesus went? Where is this place, that the disciples had to go to meet Jesus? (heaven)

Jesus told us that he is preparing a place for all of us, so that we can be together with him. Just imagine, how beautiful this would be!

Jesus wants us to go to heaven too, he also tells us which map to use to arrive. Jesus himself, is our map.

Jesus said, “I am the way.” This means that if we want to go to heaven and if we want to be happy, even now, we are to live as Jesus did. How did Jesus live? How does Jesus want us to live? (we are to love others, help those in need, pray, forgive…). For now, you still know a little about Jesus, but the more you hear about him, the more you talk with him in prayer, the more you will get to know him. That is why, it is important, that no matter how old we are, we always continue to talk with Jesus, so that he continues to show us the way. Apart from praying, how can we continue learning about Jesus and get to know him better? (mass, reading the Bible, formation meetings)

Have you ever, for example needed to go somewhere at school or at the catechetical centre where you attend, and you asked someone to tell you how to arrive, and you were sent to a different place and not the one you wanted? If we follow Jesus’ instructions, this will not happen! Jesus shows us the right way. He himself tells us that what he says is true. Jesus says, “I am the truth.”

Jesus also tells us, “I am the life.” Jesus not only wants us to enjoy life here on earth, but also to enjoy a better life with him in heaven. That is why Jesus wants to show us the way, so that we do not get lost, and so that one day, we will join him in heaven.

Today we have learnt that Jesus shows us the way we are to go, he tells us that he is the truth and that he gives us a beautiful life. For today’s activity, you have a picture to colour, of Jesus with children, and the words Jesus told us today. After you colour it, leave it in your room.
Whilst colouring, listen to, The Way, Truth, Life.

Sign of the Cross 

Dear Jesus, 

Thank you, Jesus, for preparing us a place to be with you. Thank you, that you show us how we are to live, so that we are happy and so that one day we will be with you in heaven. Thank you, too, for always telling us the truth. Help us so that we too say the truth and we too love others, like you do. Amen. 

When a couple start thinking about marriage, they look for somewhere to live. It is important to have a house to live in. How many rooms do you have in your house? Do you have your own room?

You know, that one day, we will go to heaven, and in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that he has prepared a special place for us. He is also going to tell us how to arrive to this special place. Let us listen to what he has to say.

  • Jesus is the way, the truth and the life
  • Jesus helps us, so that we can be with God the Father
  • Printout of the map and notes
  • Pencil / colours
activityDownload

Although we are in Easter Time, the reading we heard today, took place during the Last Supper. Jesus was explaining to the apostles what was going to happen, now, that he would soon be leaving them and going near God the Father. He told the apostles that he was going to prepare a place for them. What Jesus said, did not only apply to the apostles, but also to us. He tells us, that whoever knows him, knows God as well, they are the same; to go to the Father, we are to follow him, we need to follow Jesus. 

What do you do when you need to know, which road to take?

What do your parents do, when abroad, and you need to find the road which leads to the place you wish to visit?

When we need to know which road to take, we may ask for directions, or we may use the GPS or map. However, for some reason or another, we may receive the wrong instructions, and we arrive at a wrong destination!

Jesus, on the other hand, puts our mind at rest. Not only is he the way, but he is also the truth. Therefore, the way which Jesus shows us, is the right one. This is the way we need to take, to arrive in the special place which Jesus has prepared for us.

Where is this special place, which Jesus has prepared? (heaven, with God)

Who is going to show us how to arrive to heaven? (Jesus)

Jesus said that not only is he the way and the truth, but he is also “the life.” This means Jesus is alive, and we may live with him forever in heaven. If you remember last week’s Gospel it ended with the words, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (Jn 10, 10). Jesus wants that from now, we have a great, joyful life, that is why Jesus came to this world. When Jesus lived as a man, he showed us how to behave to have joy in our hearts. Jesus did not only teach with words, but also with deeds. He showed us how to love one another, how to help and serve those in need, he should us how to behave with those who have been ignored and those considered as outsiders. Jesus asked us to love, as he loves.

Did you ever see a pirates’ map, in a book or in a game? Today, you are going to do a map. The pirates’ map always ends with the treasure, even your map will end near a treasure. However, the treasure is not money or precious stones. The treasure is much more than that. At the end, there is God, in heaven. During our journey, we will pass through different moments. There will be easy times, so the road is straight and smooth. There are times when we make bad choices, when we sin, so we would have deviated from the right path. To return to the right way, we need to make a detour (in the map this is represented with the lake). In our life, we also encounter difficult times, like when we lose someone we love, problems with family and friends, choices of subjects to study, later on, what work to choose, our vocation. During these moments we may need to stop and rest, and when we do move on, the road may be difficult and hard (this is represented on the map, as mountains).

When we travel, we always take the luggage with us. What will help you during this journey towards heaven? (mass and the Eucharist, reconciliation, Bible reading, prayer, formation meetings, family and friends who are on this same journey…)

You may now make your own map. You are in the place marked X, you need to arrive near God. Along the way draw straight smooth roads, lakes and mountains. Mark the path from where you are going to pass. On the other page, give examples of help and difficulties you may encounter on the way. 

When you are ready, listen to, I am the way.

Sign of the Cross

Lord God, help us so that we follow Jesus every day. We know that he is the only way which will lead us to you. We ask this, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Gospel in Symbols Easter 5Download

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.