Most of us at one time or another have taken a trip where we know where we want to go but don’t know how to get there. And what we do is we entrust our journey into the hands of someone who does. We step onto a cruise ship, or board a plane; we climb the steps of a bus or a train; or we set our destination in our GPS, confident that the captain, the pilot, the engineer or the bus drive or even the mechanical direction giver knows where we want to go and we let them lead us. Most of the time it pays off except perhaps with a finicky GPS!!!
Jesus knows that all of life is a journey. From birth we set out for a destination – the destination of the kingdom of heaven. We know where want to end up but we don’t always know how to get there.  On our own we take detours and side roads, we encounter bumps and sink holes, we have mechanical glitches and failures, and at times life is like a maze. We seem to be walking around in circles, ending up where we started.
Jesus knows all about those frustrations as well. Today’s gospel reading gives us some sage advice. Don’t let your hearts be troubled by these frustrations. Have faith in God and have faith in me, says Jesus. I will make sure you have a place with me – in fact that was the purpose of my whole life among you. There are many places in my Father house and I am preparing one just for you.
So how do we get there? We might ask as the apostles did. We don’t even know where you are going, they asked, how can we know the way? Jesus simply tells them: I am the way and the truth and the life. Whoever follows this way will have the light of life. I am your pilot, your captain, your bus driver your engineer…I am your living, perfect GPS who always gives you the right direction toward the kingdom of heaven.
We may take a lot of trips during our lives but this journey is the most important, the ultimate way to go. One day may we reach that destination relying on the unshakeable, reliable words of the one who leads us to eternal life.