March 2

Third Saturday after Epiphany

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. S. John 14:6.

THE Way, whereby we are to go; the Truth, whereunto we are to go; the Life, wherein we are to abide: the Way, in which there is no error; the Truth, around which no shadow of falsehood can gather; the Life, which is incompatible with death. Observe the absoluteness and exclusiveness of the words. Not a way, but "the Way;" not having truth or a portion of truth, not as ours, partial or error-mingled truth, but "the Truth;" not life-endowed, but "the Life." What others, what any created thing, could have only in part, that He held whole and in its entireness. Others may possess truth and life, as communicated by Him: He alone was "the Truth and the Life," having them in Himself, so as from Himself to communicate them, but not as communicated to Him, save as He exists Himself, "very God of very God." "He," says a Father who had deeply meditated on His Being, "He, being very Son, is the Power of the Father and Wisdom and Word, not being all this by participation, nor as coming to Him from without (as in those who partake of Him and are in Him made mighty and reason-endowed); but He is the very Wisdom, very Word, and very own Power of the Father, very Sight, very Truth, very Righteousness, very Virtue and express Image and Effulgence."

Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life!

Such a Way, as gives us breath;

Such a Truth, as ends all strife;

Such a Life, as killeth death.