Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said, 'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself also. And you know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?'

Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also.'

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

My satnav screen showed my car going across wild country where there was no road.How was this possible? It was supposed to take me along a road and to where I wanted to go. It was bizarre! The truth was that I had not updated the satnav and a new road had been built, which wasn't shown on it, so that I appeared to be driving across the fields! It wasn't long after this that I put Google Maps on my phone, which even updated traffic jams!

The point is, that I always knew where I was going, but wasn't sure how to get there. This was often a struggle, particularly when negotiating big towns, and when the signposts seemed to disappear. Anyone trying to find the M1 in the middle of London can struggle until they get somewhere like Paddington when the signposts miraculously appear.

Today's reading, so loved by Christians, reminds us that we may know we are God's people, but like Thomas we can lose sight of how we get there. It would be like getting in the car and driving with no idea of the route! Jesus reminded Thomas that he was the way to God, so in simple terms, put God in your spiritual satnav, and Jesus becomes the route to get there. Is this not why we end most of our prayers with the words "through Jesus Christ, our Lord."?

Lord Jesus,
we know where we want to go,
but sometimes we struggle to find the way.
You have taught us that You are the way
and that all those who come to You
will arrive at a safe haven.
Help us to keep that faith strong in our hearts,
no matter what today or tomorrow brings.
Amen.