FOLLOWERS OF THE PATH

Many of us, at some point, have asked ourselves who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? The answers to those questions require us to confront reality and recognize the true path we are on, the conclusion for many of us is disappointment when we assess that we are not on the path to fulfillment; it is sad to admit that we know so much about the lives of others, but we know nothing, or do not want to know about ourselves. These fundamental questions help each of us to responsibly assess our situation and find definitive answers based on that assessment of our reality to guide our present and make our future, not only temporarily, here on earth, but eternally.

Life offers various paths or alternatives for reaching fulfillment. Some paths are short but perhaps more dangerous and riskier, others are longer but safe; regardless they both lead us to our purpose. Life really is a continuous search; we often do not know what to look for and we get lost in the labyrinths of the world’s illusions, confused and totally unsure, unable to understand the real meaning of our existence here and now. In Jesus’ time, humanity also experienced this. We must keep in mind that every path leads to a destination, even if it is not the one we desire. The book of Proverbs says, “there are ways that seem right, but in the end they lead to death” (Prov. 14:12).

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the desert, an inhospitable and arid place where all the imbalances produced in creation by Adam’s sin dwell, a place of many temptations and death where Satan and his angels dwell. However, there, Jesus is focused on the Word of God, His Covenant and Law; that is the path He has laid out to seal God’s definitive Covenant with humanity. Jesus never allowed His human condition to divert Him from His mission or His purpose. In the midst of that place of death He was strengthened by the Power of the Spirit. In that place of death and sin, Jesus began the true Path, the new Path of Adam, and reopened Paradise to all those who are willing to accept Him as the True Way.

We are all walking some sort of a path. I ask you, are you on the right path? This question and its answer should make us aware of the danger of following the wrong path, because we can lose not only our human life, but also Eternal Life, which of course is more valuable than anything in this temporary life. Let us remember that Jesus, in His own words, tells us that He is the Way to the Father, “do not let your hearts be troubled, Believe in God and Believe also in Me. In my Father’s house there are many rooms if it were not so I would have told you that; I am going to prepare a place for you. And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with Me, so that you may be where I am; you know the Way to where I am going. Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the Way?” Jesus answered, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. (John 14:1-6). Jesus is the Path.

Indeed, before the followers of Jesus were recognized by the name ‘Christians’ (Acts 11:26), the first name they received was “Followers of the Way.” This is confirmed in the Scripture, “meanwhile, Saul was still breathing murder threats against the Lord’s Disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).
At that time, Jesus encountered all kinds of people in need on His Path, and He Himself became the “wayfarer” who took the time to care for them and to show them the Path. When it seemed that all was lost for them, the “wayfarer” appeared to be a Path of Compassion, Dignity, Acceptance, Forgiveness, Healing, Salvation, Mercy, and the only Way to the Father.

To you, brother or sister, who receive this letter in a prison, and think, how I wish I had received a message like this before, and had that message guided my steps along the Path that is Jesus’ instead of the path that I walked; I want to tell you that God writes straight on crooked lines, and that if this message reaches you today, it is because you still are and will continue to be on the Path of Salvation with God if you choose; this is your moment. Jesus touches your heart to bring you all the Love that the circumstances of life, chosen or not by you, denied you and brought you to this present moment. Jesus is your Savior and to Him you are valuable and special. Open your heart completely and let Him be your everything, and when you let go of the rest of the ties that bind, you will see that Christ will give you total Freedom of Spirit and the Path to Eternal Life with Him and strength in this world. Jesus Loves you. Mary, our Blessed Mother, is with you.

And to all my brothers and sisters who are always attentive to our events, I cordially invite you to join us and celebrate this Jubilee, a Time of Grace and Hope, on July 12 and 13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This year I will be with each one of you to share the Word, talk, shake hands, and continue sharing about the beautiful experiences of Consecration to Jesus brings as His 73rd Disciple; I Am 73rd.

Once again, I express my gratitude for your faithfulness and help this ministry share the True Path with millions everyday. Your contributions are essential to the never-ending task of helping people find their way and continuing to proclaim the Good News. Thanks to you, this ministry is a great blessing to many. I also thank the faithful Sowers of Jesus with Mary who send in their financial support month after month. Thank you for your contribution, and may God multiply your generosity abundantly, so that together we may continue sowing in the Lord’s Vineyard.

I already mentioned the experience of consecrating oneself to Jesus in the I Am the 73rd Project; if any of you have not yet done so, now is the time. Join the next consecration that begins again on July 22. Go to www.esne73.com and register. You can register now by downloading the ESNE 73 App. If you need further guidance, please contact us in the US at (818) 912-5842. By email: info@iam73.net, and one of our brothers or sisters will assist you and guide you on this Path of Discipleship.

In the Eternal Love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and trusting the Immaculate Heart of our ever-beloved Virgin of Guadalupe.

Your servant,