The Gospel for this weekend begins with the words, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me."

I see these words not as a command to never feel anxious, but rather an invitation... words of comfort reminding us not to let anxiety dominate our lives. Jesus extends that invitation to us, to believe into... believe into me... trust into me... like being embedded with Jesus with this extremely deep loyalty and unity... that’s the kind of relationship Jesus is inviting us into. It’s easy to let our hearts be overwhelmed by fear and evil, but Jesus wants us to know that Jesus is still working and we can pay attention to those works and re-engage in that deep relationship... relationship of trust that Jesus calls us into.

In verse 2, Jesus points towards His ascension, as he explains that there are many rooms in His Father’s house. We probably tend to envision this old mansion in the sky with a lot of rooms, but Jesus probably doesn’t mean it in a literal sense. It’s more like a place in God’s household... being part of God’s family. It’s being in the intimate presence of God.

The Greek word for rooms, monaí, can also be translated "dwelling places." "Dwelling places" has a more impactful meaning. It conveys a sense of comfort, a sense of belonging and permanence, reminding us that when Jesus returns to take all believers to heaven, we will dwell with the Father and the Son eternally.

After promising that the disciples not only have a place in heaven but that He will come again to take them there, Jesus asserts in verse 4, "You know the way to where I am going." Thomas, the one who always needed clarity and tangible information states that he did not know the way. Thomas perhaps, like the other disciples had not yet seen Jesus as the messiah, the one sent to fulfil what was foretold in scripture. The disciples expected Jesus to establish a kingdom here on earth, and suddenly the talk of going away, would have sounded like a relocation plan.

Perhaps, it was only after the resurrection, they would realise that The Way isn’t a physical road - the way is a way of life, a way of being, a way of becoming it’s about a change of heart. In verse 6, Jesus makes a profound statement "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life". I invite you to ponder on how we can apply these words of Jesus in our daily life...

We could probably reflect on what choices aligns with truth, integrity, compassion and life-giving action when we are unsure of what to do? Is my "way" shaped by the character of Jesus: humility, courage, mercy and honesty? Can I see faith as a way of being and not as a set of directions?

And here’s a simple way to live this verse out each day:
At the start of the day: Take 30 seconds to say: "Let not my heart be troubled today." Set one intention based on trust rather than fear.
During the day: When faced with a choice, ask: "What is the life-giving way?"
At the end of the day: Reflect on "where you felt troubled and where you felt guided?" and let go of what you can’t control.

Let us take comfort in knowing that our journey with Jesus is not about a destination or an accomplishment or a victory, as much as it is a way of being and becoming and in that close relationship with Him, we begin to understand that He is not merely a way to the Father but The Way—The only way.