FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER - YEAR A - Gospel (John 14:1-12) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
FIRST READING - Acts 6:1-7
"Select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom."
A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
1 [a]At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 [b]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.[c] 3 Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, 4 whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 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. 6 They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them.[d] 7 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.
SECOND READING - 1 Pt 2:4-9
"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own."
A Reading from the First Letter of St. Peter
4 Come to him, a living stone,[a] rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, 5 and, like living stones, let yourselves be built[b] into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it says in scripture:
“Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion,
a cornerstone, chosen and precious,and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame.”
7 Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith:
“The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
8 and “A stone that will make people stumble,
and a rock that will make them fall.”
They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.
9 [c]But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Jn 14:1-12
"I am the way and the truth and the life."
✠From the Gospel according to John
1 [a]“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith[b] in God; have faith also in me. 2 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? 3 [c]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. 4 Where [I] am going you know the way.”[d] 5 Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth[e] and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, then you will also know my Father.[f] From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father,[g] and that will be enough for us.” 9 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’? 10 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. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. 12 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.
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER - YEAR A - Gospel (John 14:1-12)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
In today's Word of God, Jesus Christ introduces God the Father to humanity.
No one has ever seen God the Father, except for Jesus Christ alone. Therefore, this is a blessing that God bestows upon humanity, as Jesus Christ Himself introduces God the Father to humanity.
God the Father is the Self-Existent One, the Only One, the One whom humanity must worship.
He is the One who created mankind. Without Him, human beings would not exist in this world.
Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself by coming to earth to become man to dwell among humanity, and made known to humanity the existence of God the Father.
If Jesus Christ had not spoken to humanity about God the Father, humanity would still be walking in the darkness of sin.
Furthermore, Jesus Christ revealed to humanity that all that He does is commanded by God the Father.
Today's Word of God emphasizes an eternal God the Father.
God desires for humanity to draw near to Jesus Christ as in the invitation of Saint Peter: draw near to Jesus Christ so that He may grant more strength, grant more love, and also sanctify our being, so that He may use each person’s soul and body to become a spiritual Temple for God to dwell in, becoming a living temple worthy of offering sacrifices to God the Father.
Without His support and love, humanity would not be what it is today.
God the Father desires that humanity listen to God's Word and put it into practice, believing that the words Jesus Christ taught are the truth.
Today's Word of God desires to reveal to humanity that in all the works of Jesus Christ, God the Father is always present.
God the Father is always united with Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is always in God the Father. Jesus Christ came into the world to bring God the Father’s love to humanity.
He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. For this reason, all the invitations and teachings of Jesus Christ call upon human beings to perform good works and virtuous deeds and to live in love.
For Jesus Christ Himself is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, to come to God the Father.
For only God the Father is the One alone who grants salvation to mankind, and God the Father and the Son are one.
In today's Word of God, God calls upon humanity to walk on the path that Jesus Christ has walked.
For before the Only Begotten Son of God sacrificed Himself, suffered death, and rose again to save humanity, He taught people that He was going ahead to return to God the Father.
This signifies that Jesus Christ had to sacrifice Himself, suffer death, and rise again so that through Him, humanity could be saved, set free from sin, and enjoy happiness with God the Father in the life to come.
God invites humanity to come to Jesus Christ, so that through Him, people may enjoy happiness with God the Father.
The words He speaks are truth and life.
Therefore, all who walk on the path that Jesus Christ walked must endure suffering and must carry their own cross and follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ to Calvary, and suffer death with Him so that they may rise in glory with Him.
In this earthly life, we will also encounter hardships and trials, but be obedient and faithful to God the Father’s holy will until the very last breath to be saved; just as Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, was faithful to God the Father until His last breath, and He was raised to glorious life by God the Father.
Today's Word of God also calls upon humanity:
To come to Jesus Christ, to come to God the Father through Him.
To pray with absolute faith in Jesus Christ, and He will grant it.
Above all, the essential thing He grants to humanity is eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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