Several years ago, a movie came out called 2012, loosely inspired by a poorly understood Mayan prophecy that suggested the world would come to an end in December of 2012.  While the prophecy came from a distortion of the Mayan calendar, there is a way, from a certain point of view, that the prophecy may have in fact, come to pass.  For many, the world ended when Disney purchased the rights to Star Wars at the end of 2012.  Ever since then, there have been a plethora of new movies and TV series.  Most of them have been heavily criticized, and while I joke about the world ending, people have become so impassioned by movie series that it is a near cataclysmic event.  One of the Star Wars series, however, that has received a lot of acclaim and been very popular, however, is the Mandalorian.  One of the title character’s features is his dedication to the Way.  The Way is a code of behavior and traditions that honored the culture.  By following the set of rules and the Way, one stays alive and also protects the community.

In the Gospel, Jesus names himself as the Way.  This is not a secret or mystery to us.  From our beginning, our Faith has been described as a way and a journey.  And yet, it is very different from the Way of the Mandalorian.  It is not a way defined by a set of rules that have to be learned.  This is the way of the Old Testament: a law guidelines and behaviors that if followed, will lead one to be righteous and have a good life.  If it were this way, then Thomas would have been correct in saying: Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?  But Jesus responded: You know the Way.

The Way is not set by a set of rules that have to be learned.  You know the Way.  That is to say to Thomas, and to us, you have seen me; you have seen my work; you have heard my word, which is the Word of God; you have seen the path I have followed; and you have seen where it leads.  

You know the Way.  It is not a way that merely leads to long life, but eternal life.  It is the Way that leads to the Father’s House.  The Way that Christ came to reveal, is Himself, remembering that He is the Way, is that we become like Him and united with Him.

This is the Way that so many of the Saints have described and given their testimony to:  The Way of Perfection and Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila; The Story of a Soul by Therese of Liseaux; The Diary of St. Faustina; The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis; The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius; St. Francis De Sales Introduction to the Devout Life are a few of these testimonies.

It is to say, You know the Way although you may not know the ins and outs of how to get there.