Daily Readings - Fri May 03 2019
1 Corinthians
1And so I make known to you, brothers, the Gospel that I preached to you, which you also received, and on which you stand2By the Gospel, too, you are being saved, if you hold to the understanding that I preached to you, lest you believe in vain3For I handed on to you, first of all, what I also received: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures4and that he was buried; and that he rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures5and that he was seen by Cephas, and after that by the eleven6Next he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, many of whom remain, even to the present time, although some have fallen asleep7Next, he was seen by James, then by all the Apostles8And last of all, he was seen also by me, as if I were someone born at the wrong time
John
6Jesus said to him: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me7If you had known me, certainly you would also have known my Father. And from now on, you shall know him, and you have seen him.8Philip said to him, "Lord, reveal the Father to us, and it is enough for us.9Jesus said to him: "Have I been with you for so long, and you have not known me? Philip, whoever sees me, also sees the Father. How can you say, ‘Reveal the Father to us?10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I am speaking to you, I do not speak from myself. But the Father abiding in me, he does these works11Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me12Or else, believe because of these same works. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me shall also do the works that I do. And greater things than these shall he do, for I go to the Father13And whatever you shall ask the Father in my name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son14If you shall ask anything of me in my name, that I will do
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the heart of our Christian faith and the profound relationship between Jesus Christ and God the Father. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 emphasizes the core of the Gospel message: Christ’s death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day. Paul highlights that this is not just a story but a historical and spiritual truth that has been witnessed by many, including himself. The resurrection is the foundation of our faith, and without it, our belief would be in vain.
The Gospel from John 14:6-14 deepens this truth by revealing the intimate union between Jesus and the Father. Jesus declares, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This statement underscores the uniqueness of Christ as the sole mediator between God and humanity. Jesus also explains that to see Him is to see the Father, for He and the Father are one. This passage invites us to reflect on the mystery of the Trinity and the divine love that flows between the Father and the Son.
Both readings call us to a deeper understanding of who Christ is and what He has done for us. The resurrection in the first reading is the ultimate proof of God’s power and love, while the Gospel reminds us that Christ is the only way to the Father. In our daily lives, this means trusting in Christ’s promises and striving to live as children of God. Let us ask ourselves: Do we truly know Christ? Do we allow His resurrection power to transform our lives? May we grow in faith, hope, and love, knowing that through Christ, we have access to the Father and the power to do even greater works in His name.