Gospel of John, chapter 14:6

During the American Civil War, a young soldier who had lost his father and older brother in the war went to Washington to see if he could get an exemption from military service. As the only surviving male in the family, he wanted to go back home and help his mother and sister run the farm, which only men could do. When he approached the White House and asked to see the president, he was turned away by security guards. The soldier, dejected, went and sat down on a park bench nearby, unsure what else to do.

Soon after, a little boy approached him and said, “You look unhappy, soldier. What’s wrong?” The soldier told his story. Then the little boy took him by the hand, and led him through the back door of the White House, past the guards, and into the president’s office. President Lincoln looked up and asked, “What can I do for you, Tad?” Tad said, “Daddy, this soldier needs to talk to you.” The soldier was not turned away. The president listened to his story and granted his request without delay.

Many people today think that it does not matter what god you pray to because every deity is ultimately the same, and worshiped in different names by different people. There is an element of truth to this. The different natural religions in the world are as a result of the human groping for God in the darkness of the human condition. But Christianity is not a natural religion. It did not come about as a result of humans reaching out to God, but rather of God reaching out to us. In the fullness of time, God sent into the world, not a prophet, not an angel, but His only begotten Son, to show us the way to Him. In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; but in these last days, “He spoke to us through a Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

What sets Jesus apart from other founders of religion, priests and prophets, is the fact that he is God’s own Son. More than anyone that has walked this earth, he knows the mind of God, whom he calls Abba, Daddy. Like Tad, President Lincoln’s son in our story, he can most easily and most assuredly bring us into God’s presence. That is why He says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

As Christians in the world today, we have a problem. We underrate ourselves. We do not appreciate how chosen and how special we are as followers of God’s only Son. We compare ourselves with people who live by the light of nature and reason alone. We forget to see that of all humankind, we are the most privileged; we are called to be shining examples of God’s image in the world. This is why Jesus says: “If you believe in me, you will do the deeds that I do” (John 14:12). Jesus is counting on you. He has no hands but your hands, no feet but your feet, and no eyes but your eyes to continue His work on earth, here and now.

Let us treasure this calling and see ourselves for what we truly are, by God’s grace, and let God work in us and through us. This is the birthright of every Christian.

Fr. Hugh Duffy