Catholics use many titles to address Jesus and practice various devotions to honor him. Among these are the Sacred Heart, the Divine Mercy, the Holy Child, the Nazarene, the Redeemer, and Christ the King.

Blessed James Alberione, the founder of the Pauline Family and the apostle of the modern means of communication, has bequeathed to his spiritual sons and daughters a devotion which becomes their mission—the proclamation of Jesus the Divine Master, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He explains, “The Divine Master is the Truth which we must know, the Way which we must follow to reach God, the Life that we must live to be eternally happy.”

Underlying Blessed Alberione’s devotion to the Divine Master as Way, Truth, and Life is John’s narration of the Last Supper. Here Jesus reveals himself even as he bids farewell to his disciples.

One can imagine how the disciples feel during these moments of uncertainty. They have been thinking that Jesus is the awaited Messiah sent to liberate Israel from the Roman conquerors. Instead, they hear him speak of departure: “I will be with you only a little while longer” (Jn 13:33).

But Jesus hastens to reassure them and boost their morale. He tells them that they need not fear because his departure is but a prelude to the heavenly homecoming of God’s children. Thomas, ever doubting, cannot understand how they can follow Jesus when they do not know where Jesus is going. Jesus declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (14:6).

Many Bible scholars place the emphasis on Jesus as Way. Jesus is not only likened to a highway that one can take in going to and from a place. Jesus is the Way because through him one comes to possess the Father, hence to possess truth and life. He is the sacrament of the Father, the revelation of God’s love and gift of life. Through him, the heavenly Father offers humanity salvation and liberation. The supreme expression of this salvation is in Jesus’ selfless death on the cross to give life to all. Thus, Jesus is the Way because through him humanity has been given new life.

As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the Apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.”