“The Lord…is the way with the good example he has given us and gives us continually, going ahead of us with the practice of the virtues, doing and teaching. And we, if we are truly Christians, can do no less than follow and imitate him. He is truth itself and so teaches us in his holy Gospel. Finally, he is life which makes us live in the life of grace if we observe his doctrine, because the words he has spoken are spirit and life for us, and also if we receive the holy sacraments, especially the Eucharist, where is the bread of life.”

 (Carta ascética… al presidente de uno de los coros de la Academia de San Miguel. Barcelona 1862, p. 21)

WAY, TRUTH AND LIFE

In the gospels there are many calls to conversion and to lead a simple, sincere life in order to reach the goal of holiness. Perhaps the passage which on which Claret comments in the text you have just read (Jn 14:6) you have not meditated on enough. Perhaps you have not realised that it is one of the deepest texts in all of Christian revelation.

It would be good to bear it constantly in mind and heart and meditate on it without ceasing, at least once or twice a day, during your working day or day of rest. You could learn it by heart and make it the object of your prayer, paraphrasing, with the heart rather than the tongue, with the words of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta made prayer: Lord Jesus, sweet brother and friend: I know and firmly believe that you are for me the love I must love, the way I must go, the truth I must speak, the life I must live and the love who I must love.

The Christian is a person who seeks – or should seek – God continually, and the way of this search is Jesus of Nazareth, who became the way in this misdirected world. Let’s hope that you, as a believer, may choose the sure path and not other ways which can lead you to perdition. The Christian is the chosen and predestined person who has hunger and thirst for truth and life. For you, and for all men and women of good will, the Lord is the truth and the life. You do not seek truth and life where lies and death reign.

Your closeness to the Son of God and Mary will be the guarantee of success, peace and glory. Approach the way of the Gospel, in it you will find the sure path, the truth which does not fail and true life: eternal life.