The Way

Jesus told his disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6)

****

Many years ago, my husband and I, plus some of our children, traveled from Owen Sound, Ontario to Michigan, USA. We attended the wedding of a close friend and had a wonderful time. It was late afternoon when we left Michigan and I was assigned the task of holding the map and marking out the route we were to take back to Ontario. It was in those ancient days before cars were equipped with GPS.

The beginning of our way home was fairly easy. The children were quiet and relaxed, and no one had yet attained the “Are we there yet?” syndrome. However, as it grew darker and the small print on the map became more and more difficult to read, things grew a little trickier. Eventually, as the hours drifted by, questions from my husband, such as: “Are you sure we turn left here?” and “Things don’t look familiar,” and “I don’t recall this town at all,” waxed stronger and stronger. Truth be told, it totally altered the atmosphere in the car from cheerfulness and unconcern to one of uncertainty and skepticism as to my abilities to be a pilot.

The climax of this trip was reached when we drove under a blue, overhead sign which welcomed us, in large white letters, not to Ontario, but to Indiana. We, consequently, arrived home a little late, but our marriage was intact.

***

Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, went on the last lap of a journey in April of this year, 2025. He died. His journey, like the journey of all living souls, had been woven throughout his life with many twists and turns. He had been equipped with a map as well. However, the map he chose to carry was a trifle skewed. Consequently, his direction resulted in being a little lopsided, a trifle off kilter and amazingly crooked.

There were a number of turns Francis should have totally avoided. When he came to the “Sola Scriptura” sign, he wrongly headed toward “Scripture and Tradition.” When there was a clear indication that no tolls would be required at the “Sola Gratia” causeway he calmly swerved off into “Grace and Cooperation.” At the neon lights proclaiming “Solus Christus” he shrugged, turned his steering wheel the opposite way, repairing to “Christ and the Church.” At the roundabout, which clearly pointed to the fact that the first right, “Sola Fide,” should be taken, he took the left turn, pushing for “Faith and Good Works.” And when he came to a flashing yellow light indicating “Soli Deo Gloria,” he braked, scratched his head and sighed. Then, although he took the flashing yellow light into account, he turned back and took the alternate route of “Glorification of the Saints.”

Francis’ driving ability was almost certainly hampered by his bound hands. They had a rosary wrapped around them. Or perhaps the pallium he wore – the sleeveless cape bearing six black crosses and made with the wool from two lambs – somewhat hindered his arm movements. Or, most probably, the white cloth draped over his face, weighed down with a collection of medals and coins from his reign as pope, blinded and handicapped his capacity for sound judgment.

Jesus told His disciples in the specific map instructions of John 14:6 (and He is also telling us): “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

This was an excerpt of a devotional chapter from an upcoming book by Christine.