Knowing The Way

Dicit ei Thomas: Domine, nescimus, quo vadis; et quomodo possumus viam scire? Thomas dubius tarde intelligebat, et hoc ad nostrum profectum; quia, sicut negatio Petri profuit ad tollendam praesumtionem , sic nescientia Thomae ad fidei robur et distinctionem. Ideo certifcat eum Dominus de via et termino; unde: Dicit ei lesus: Ego sum via, veritas, et vita. Veritas et vita quoad terminum, quia veritas intellectum, vita respicit affectum. Ego sum via quaerentibus, veritas invenientibus, vita sine morte permanentibus. Ego sum via non errans ; Psalmus: Erraverunt in invio et non in via. Ego sum veritas non fallens; Psalmus: Fidelis Dominus in omnibus verbis suis. Vita indeficiens; Lucae decimo: Maria optimam partem elegit, quae non auferetur ab ea. Ego sum via ducens; Proverbiorum quarto: Ducam te per semitas aequitatis, quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui , et currens non habebis offendiculum. Ego sum veritas lucens; Malachiae ultimo: Orietur vobis timentibus Deum sol iustitiae. Vita pascens; supra decimo: Per me si quis introierit, salvabitur; et ingredietur et egredietur et pascua inveniet. Ego sum via exemplo ; supra decimo tertio: Exemplum dedi vobis, ut quemadmodum ego feci vobis, ita et vos faciatis. Ego sum veritas in promisso; Psalmus: Quae procedunt de labiis meis non faciam irrita. Ego sum vita in praemio; ad Romanos sexto: Stipendia peccati mors; gratia autem Dei, vita aeterna. Et quod sit via, ostendit: Nemo venit ad Patrem nisi per me. Sanctus Bonaventura, Commentarius In Evangelium Ioannem, Caput XIV Source: Here, p495-496

Thomas said, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?' 1 Because of doubt Thomas was slow to understand, and this is to our advantage, because as Peter's denial profits for ridding oneself of presumption, so the ignorance of Thomas profits for the strength and discernment of faith. Therefore the Lord assures him of the way and end, whence: Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.' The truth and the way as much as they are an end, since truth looks to the intellect, and life to love. 'I am the way for those who seek, the truth for those who find, the life without death for those who persist. 'I am the way that does not err.' The Psalm: 'They wandered without a way and not in the way.' 2 'I am the truth that does not deceive.' The Psalm: 'The Lord is faithful in all His words.' 3 'I am the life that does not perish.' In the tenth chapter of Luke: 'Mary has chosen the best part which shall not be taken from her.' 4 'I am the way that leads.' In the fourth chapter of Proverbs: 'I shall lead you along a path of righteousness, and when you shall enter into it, your steps shall not be impeded, but you shall have no obstacles to your running.' 5 'I am the truth that shines.' In the last chapter of Malachi, 'The sun of righteousness shall rise over those who fear God.' 6 'I am the life that feeds.' In the tenth chapter of this Gospel: 'He who enters through me shall be saved, and he shall come in and go out and find pasture.' 7 'I am the way by example.' In the thirteenth chapter: 'I have given an example to you, that as I have done, so you may do.' 8 'I am truth as promise.' The Psalm: 'What comes forth from my lips shall not vex.' 9 'I am the life as reward.' In the sixth chapter of Romans: 'The reward of sin is death, but the grace of God is life eternal.' 10 And He shows what the way is: 'No one comes to the Father unless through me.' Saint Bonaventura, Commentary On The Gospel Of Saint John, Chapter 14 1 Jn 14.5 2 Ps 106.40 3 Ps 144.13 4 Lk 10.42 5 Prov 4.11 6 Malachi 4.2 7 Jn 10.9 8 Jn 13.15 9 Ps 88.13 10 Rom 6.23