Most Rev. (Dr) Gabriel G. Dunia
In his valediction, the Lord Jesus decided to console and reconfirm his followers in the faith. Hence, he stated: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1). He went on to assure his followers that there are many dwelling places that will be quite more than enough, for all who truly know, and follow him to occupy in the kingdom of God (cf. John 14:2). What is more, he obliged to go and prepare a place where the said dwelling-places are made available for those who are worthy before coming back to take them there (cf. John 14:3). Thomas in his ignorance or mischief told Jesus that they did not know the way to where he, Jesus was going to go, and asked Jesus how they could know the way which Jesus supposed they had known (cf. John 14:5). This necessitated Jesus' affirmative declaration: “Ego sum via et veritas et vita; nemo venit ad patrem nisi per me = I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
This way, the truth and the life must first be known, chosen or accepted, believed in, followed and dwelt in, with the full possession of the supernatural or theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity as well as the gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord. She or he who truly possesses the preceding virtues and gifts should concomitantly posses, and produce other virtues and fruits such as the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance and the fruits of the Holy Spirit (charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity) respectively (cf. CCC 1832).
In the history of the tradition of our religion, Christianity, the first and only person known to have possessed and produced respectively the supernatural or theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity and the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance and the fruits of the Holy Spirit in the fullest degree is the Mother of our Saviour, the Blessed Virgin Mary. For example, the Angel Gabriel, at the Annunciation, hailed the Blessed Virgin Mary as gratia plena, Dominus tecum = “full of grace”, the Lord is with you (Luke 1:28).
Indeed, when the information of the possibility of the Blessed Virgin Mary becoming the Mother of Christ was communicated to her by the Angel, she quickly made some inquiry which led to further clarification by the Angel. With such further clarification the full knowledge of Jesus, the way, the truth and the life was conceived in her heart, mind, spirit and then in the womb. Hence, she conceded and accepted, dwelt in the way, the truth and life and to lead and guard all others to and in the same: “I am the handmaid of the Lord let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1: 38).
What is more, the proof that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the indisputable depository of the way, the truth and life is clearly stated during the visit of the shepherds to Mary and her newly born baby: “As for Mary she treasured and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2: 19). No wonder therefore that the Church gives her the titles: Sedes sapientiae = the seat of wisdom, Mater divinae gratiae = Mother of Divine Grace, virgo fidelis = Virgin most faithful, speculum iustitiae = mirror of justice, Ianua caeli = the gate of heaven and so on.
Revealing true blessedness of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the one who truly knows, chooses, believes and dwells in the Way, the Truth and Life, both the woman in the crowd and Jesus declared respectively: “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!...Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:27).
We are and can never be tired of proclaiming the fact that it is through the woman, the Blessed Virgin Mary and no other, that humanity can truly know, choose or accept, believe, follow, dwell and possess Jesus, the way, the truth and the life. Amen.
To Jesus through Mary.
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