The picture of Him

John 14:6-14 "Jesus the Way to the Father"
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one goes to the Father except through Me".

This was the gospel reading yesterday. Fr. Buddy's homily is practical. It made me think and reflect, and feel guilty somehow ;)His homily was in chavacano (local dialect).

GUILTY!

Yes, many of us (including myself) will only remember the last part of this gospel reading: "If you ask anything in my name, I will do it". Many of us have forgotten about the picture of Jesus Christ in the Bible-- loving, forgiving, ever good Jesus. We have focused on Jesus as the "Provider"-- the Banker whom we run to when we need cash, the "shoulder to cry on" when we are broken hearted, the "Police" who makes us feel secure when we don't feel safe at all. Many of us would say out loud "Give us today our daily bread" when we pray the Lord's prayer.

I'm not saying that it's wrong. We really do ask. We ask for graces in different forms. But, what we should not forget is that Jesus, the Son of God, became One like us to give as a picture of what God is like. During the times of Moses and Abraham, God was felt and heard, but never seen. His VOICE became their guide. However, no one knows what our God is like.

Jesus became one like us to set us examples of what the Father wants us to be, how to love and care for God and for our fellowmen. Jesus' teachings are not His but of the Father. Jesus is the model. He is the Way to the Father.

But God gave us freedom to decide. Follow Christ... or our own ways.