Daily Readings - Mon May 03 2021
1 Corinthians
1Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,2and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
John
6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.7If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."8Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."9Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.12"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.13Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the heart of our Christian faith and the profound relationship between Jesus and the Father. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 emphasizes the core of the Gospel: Christ’s death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day. Paul underscores that this is not just a story but a historical event witnessed by many, including Peter, the other apostles, and even Paul himself. This passage serves as a foundation for our faith, grounding it in the reality of Christ’s victory over sin and death.
In the Gospel, John 14:6-14, Jesus reveals Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the only path to the Father. When Philip asks to see the Father, Jesus responds by saying that seeing Him is seeing the Father, for He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. This passage invites us to deepen our understanding of Jesus’ divine identity and His unity with the Father. It also calls us to trust in Jesus’ words and works, for they are not His own but the Father’s working through Him.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith is rooted in the historical event of Christ’s resurrection and in the divine truth of Jesus’ relationship with the Father. As we go about our daily lives, let us hold fast to this faith, knowing that Christ is our Way, our Truth, and our Life. May we, like Paul, stand firm in the Gospel and, like Philip, seek to see the Father in Jesus. Let us also remember that our faith is not just about believing in something; it is about living in such a way that we reflect the love and truth of Christ to the world.