The power of personal example is the best form of witness. Jesus witnessed by example, and encouraged his followers to do the same. The early Christians took to heart the words of Jesus proclaiming himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life ( Gospel of John 14:6 ). Is it any wonder that they grew from strength to strength in so short a time-span and attracted other followers from all over the known world to join them? These early Christians made the words of Jesus their own by imitating the Way he lived, by absorbing into their hearts the awesome Truth of his teaching, and by transforming their lives into new people through the new Life of his gospel.

As the Way, Jesus shows us how to live our lives by imitating him. His whole life was an unbroken testimony to the power of God’s Love for all humankind, a Love that embraced every man, woman and child: the lame, the blind, the deaf, the crippled, the back-sliders, the least among us, the good and the bad. His Love was boundless like the reach of the the sun which shines on the “just and the unjust” alike. This is the kind of Love that lights up our Way in this world in our dealings with one another. Be gentle and humble the Way Jesus treated others. Be patient with everyone, forgiving shortcomings, and choose kindness over anger whenever you are put to the test. There is tremendous power in a simple touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, a well-meant compliment or any act of caring. These practical examples of love can save a life, your life and the lives of others. 

As the Truth, the words of Jesus are words of Wisdom. They flowed from the purest fount of truth which He possessed as the Son of God. He taught by means of parables and conveyed the mysteries of his kingdom in language and images that even a child could grasp. People marveled at his words and wondered where he derived such wisdom. He taught them about faith, a gift not reserved for “the wise and the clever” but for those who have “the spirit of the child.” In your life, get acquainted with the words of Jesus in scripture, not by giving lip-service, but by absorbing them into your heart and living according to them.

As the Life, the message of Jesus is always one of new life, of which he is the living embodiment. The Resurrection of Jesus made it possible for us to rise again, not just on the last day, but every day of our lives. Our lives take on new meaning because of the new life of the Resurrection. We are not condemned to live without hope. We have been given the power to live as children of the Light, fashioned in his image, to be bearers of new life in the world in which we live. In the course of your life, you will be buffeted by temptations, problems and obstacles that tend to rob you of Hope. Do not cave in, but rise up to new life by trusting in Jesus to renew you because he is the giver of Life. 

Even though we are fallible and weak, we are privileged to follow Jesus  “the Way,  the Truth, and the Life,” who will never abandon us even in our darkest hour. This wide-ranging teaching impacts every dimension of our lives. It is a teaching that is both practical and life-changing. May God give us the grace to follow his Son, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy