WEEK 08 06 – Year II
Know the Way, Go the Way, Show the Way
(Jude 17-25; Ps 63; Mk 11:27-33)
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The Christopher Leadership Course for youth includes the saying, “Know the Way, Go the Way and Show the Way” in one of its warm-ups.
In a way, that saying could be seen as embodying the message from today’s readings, inviting us to rely on faith and prayer in the face of opposition.
Psalm 63 sets the tone, inviting us to thirst for God, and to slake that thirst through heartfelt prayer and praise.
St. Jude builds on that psalm, encouraging us to build ourselves up on our holy faith, to pray in the Holy Spirit, to keep ourselves in the love of God, to look forward to the mercy of Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. In turn, we are to have mercy on those who are wavering, reach out to those who are struggling, and above all, give glory, majesty power and authority to the God of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All in all, a practical summation of our faith in action. Jude knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
In the gospel of Mark, we see Jesus doing just that. As he was walking in the temple (a bit of irony there as he is the new temple of the presence of God among us), he was challenged by the chief priests, scribes and elders, all the religious authorities about his own authority and motivation for his actions. Cleverly, Jesus turns the tables on them with a question about the origin of John’s baptism in a way they can’t answer without implicating themselves, so they say they do not know. He has caught them in their conniving, revealing again his own divine authority, if only they would see it. Jesus certainly knows the way, goes the way, and was trying to show them the way.
That saying doesn’t have to be lived out in very grandiose ways, but rather in simple ways and statements, sometimes even wordless. When I travel, I try to take along my large NRSV bible. Going through security, the agent gazing at my briefcase on the screen asked me one question, “Holy Bible?” I was delighted at that question and complimented her on recognizing it.
Later, reading my bible in the waiting area, a man passing by saw what I was doing and made the comment, “That’s the best book in the whole world.” Again, I was quietly affirmed by that statement, and readily agreed with him. Now I wonder who else in the area saw that bible put to good use in an airport waiting room and might have been influenced by that action. In a very quiet way, I believe I was also knowing the way, going the way and showing the way.
Every time we participate in the Eucharist, say grace in public and stand our ground when questioned about our faith, we are living out that statement.
Jesus stated clearly that he was the Way, the Truth and the Life. May our celebration today strengthen our knowledge of this Way, empower us to go that way by living it out, and help us to show others the way to this new life.
