Encountering the Father
Through the Son
In the profound words of Jesus, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me," we encounter the cornerstone of Christian faith. These words, spoken during the Last Supper, reveal Jesus Christ as the exclusive path to salvation. This is not merely a statement of spiritual direction but a definitive revelation of Jesus' divine nature - He is not simply showing us the way; He Himself constitutes the way. In His person, Jesus embodies the fullness of truth and the source of eternal life, offering humanity direct access to the Father.
The subsequent dialogue with Philip highlights our human tendency to seek tangible proof of divine realities. When Philip asks, "Lord, show us the Father," he expresses the universal yearning for direct encounter with God. Jesus' gentle rebuke - "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" - reveals the mystery of the Incarnation in its fullness. Jesus Christ and the Father are one in the perfect communion of the Holy Trinity. This truth lies at the heart of our faith: in the person of Jesus, the invisible God has made Himself visible and accessible, allowing us to know the Father through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus promises that believers will perform "greater works," He points to the life-changing power that would flow through His Church after His Resurrection. This is not a promise that disciples would perform more spectacular miracles, but rather that through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the message of salvation would extend to the ends of the earth. Each baptized person participates in this Godly mission, becoming a living witness to Jesus Christ's saving truth through the sacramental life. The works of mercy, evangelization, and sanctification carried out by the faithful across history are the fulfillment of this promise - all accomplished through the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ Himself.
The assurance that Jesus will do "whatever you ask in my name" is not a blank check for our earthly desires but an invitation to align our will with His divine purpose. To pray in Jesus' name means to pray in accordance with His nature and mission - for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls. This prayer is efficacious because it flows from the heart of Jesus Christ Himself, who eternally intercedes for us before the Father. When we approach the Father through the Son, our prayers participate in the perfect filial relationship within the Trinity. This divine communion, made accessible through the Holy Eucharist and the sacramental life, is the ultimate fulfillment of Jesus' promise to be our way, our truth, and our life.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
