While there can certainly be more than one way of doing most things, not doing things the right way may be to our peril. For example, learning how to pack your own parachute before going skydiving would be important to do exactly as it is taught. Similarly, when backing a vehicle out of a parking spot, failing to look in the rearview mirror would be foolish. Likewise, when it comes to the salvation of our souls, there is only one way to our eternal home. In yesterday’s gospel, Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14: 6) Salvation is from the Lord. There is only one way to the happiness of eternal life, and it is to our peril to forget that!
I often think of the famous Frank Sinatra song, “My Way,” released in 1969. Written by Paul Anka for Frank Sinatra at a time when his career seemed to be waning, the refrain, “I did it my way,” celebrates Sinatra’s way of going at life, with rugged determination and total self-reliance – his own way. Unfortunately, people now embrace the lyrics, “I did it my way,” as a valid approach to getting through daily life. Rather, I submit that stubbornly doing things “my way” gives no credit to the loving providence of God, from whom all blessings flow. While taking the initiative in life is important, stubborn self-reliance is not a virtue. Thankfully, Jesus shows us a better way.
When it comes to our spiritual journey through life, people hesitate to trust what has been revealed to us in Sacred Scripture and Christian doctrine. There are all kinds of influencers online who offer “their way” of undertaking the spiritual journey. Many adopt some new way, wanting to be “unshackled” from organized religion, yet they fail to realize that they are still following someone else’s way. Persistent resistance to things in life that are “tried and true” manifests a rebellious spirit. While there is unity in the Holy Spirit, the evil one seeks division, often through rebellion.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” As his disciples, we have to trust Him on this, which then enables us to entrust our lives to His way, surrendering our own desires and plans to him. Frankly, going at life our own way is perilous. Actually, it is hellish, because it takes on the burden of finding our own way, trying to eke out our own happiness. Yet the evil one tempts us to believe we can make ourselves happier by doing things our own way. Usually, living life “our way” is a fleeting kind of happiness, mostly tied to the empty pursuit of pleasure. In the end, we exhaust ourselves by chasing after a series of things for some brief satisfaction that never endures.
Rather, Jesus invites us to discover that there is an unmatched satisfaction to be found through a life of friendship with Him. His way is open to young and old, rich and poor, saints and sinners, and to all who are weary and find life burdensome. But it is only in Jesus that we are able to discover what we cannot begin to imagine without his grace. For it is through friendship with him that we discover the way he marks out for us, and by his grace we are able to both accept his way and follow him. The way of our Lord is charged with meaning, with tremendous joy and beautiful and surprising graces. The way of Christ is a blessed life!
Furthermore, Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” If the goal of life is simply to have as much fun as we can for as long as we can, this is essentially life without a “way.” It is a life without a goal or meaning or direction. Jesus, however, shows us the way that leads us to His Heavenly Father. And this way gives true meaning, fulfillment and hope to our days on earth. The more we walk in step with Jesus the more ordered our lives become. And as we follow our Lord, the more freely we are able to let go of our stubborn self-reliance and repent of our sins. Because Jesus knows the Father, we can trust him completely.
The words of our Lord also indicate that the goal of life is ceaseless intimate union with the Father. Whatever else we may be chasing after, if it doesn’t lead us to our Heavenly Father, it is a detour from the true way. Because Jesus is the way of meaning, direction and salvation in our lives, let’s allow him to captivate our minds and hearts. Let’s become so enamored with him that like Peter, Andrew, James and John, we are willing to leave behind our own plans to follow after him.
We cannot save ourselves. We have a Savior; he is Christ the Lord! His way is right and just. His way is the way of the disciple. His way leads to ceaseless and intimate union with our Heavenly Father and enriches our daily life along the way. So how much of your way is in step with our Lord, and how much of your way is self-directed? There is a right way, a better way that the Lord provides for us. It isn’t just his way. It is he himself. Our living union with Christ is the blessed assurance of our salvation.
