I am the TRUTH, I am the WAY, and I am the LIFE…

I remember travelling as a pilgrim to Mexico and of course to Guadalupe, and visiting an amazing market in the local town square. It was filled with vendors selling their wares of every kind. As I navigated the various pathways between vendors, the numbers of designer items for sale intrigued me. Can you imagine, there was everything from sunglasses to clothing, Rolex watches to Prada handbags, the items were all sporting the names of the most desirable designers of the day. And of course these “designer” goods were being offered at incredibly discounted prices.

But… the truth was the items they were selling were not real designer goods, but cheaper counterfeits that were likely mass-produced.  Upon careful examination the quality of materials was not good, the craftsmanship was missing and the attention to detail was simply not there. Counterfeit or not, tourist looking for a “great deal” were quickly purchasing the items. Many of my parishioners got this trap.

Today I’m thinking about that experience and how it seems to give a bit of commentary about the world in which we live especially as it relates to the redefining of truth and life which Jesus mentions in today’s gospel.

So, today Jesus is telling us: I am the TRUTH, I am the WAY, and I am the LIFE... In order for me to understand the real meaning of truth and life, I must know God and live out the teachings of His Word.

Now you might be asking: ok, but what does this have to do with counterfeit merchandise sold in the market square? I think – everything! You know, nowadays we are very often being sold truth and love that looks nothing like the real thing. We are being convinced, even coerced, to embrace counterfeits that are masquerading as something real, but inwardly still as broken and unredeemed as we all are without Jesus in our lives.

Today, while the marketplace of our daily lives is filled with the sounds of “vendors” offering counterfeits of truth and love that capture the hearts of hurting and lonely people, I think that only the Gospel continues to offer real truth and life that demonstrates itself by the very one who gives definition to both – Jesus Christ.