Daily Readings - Fri May 16 2025
Acts
26"Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.27For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.28And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.29And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.30But God raised him from the dead,31and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.32And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,33this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.'
John
1"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.2In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.4And you know the way to where I am going."5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the heart of our Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life. In the first reading from Acts, St. Paul preaches to both Jews and Gentiles, explaining how Jesus fulfilled the promises of the Old Testament. He reminds his audience that the rulers of Jerusalem, along with those who rejected Jesus, fulfilled the Scriptures by condemning him to death. Yet, God’s plan was not defeated; instead, he raised Jesus from the dead, proving his power over sin and death. This resurrection is not just a historical event but a living reality that offers salvation to all people.
In the Gospel, Jesus comforts his disciples with words of hope and reassurance. He speaks of his Father’s house, where there are many dwelling places, and promises to prepare a place for them. Thomas’s confusion about the way to this place leads Jesus to declare, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” These words are both a promise and a challenge. They remind us that our ultimate home is not in this world but in the eternal life that Jesus offers. At the same time, they call us to trust in him as the only path to the Father.
These readings remind us that our faith is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of eternal life. Like the disciples, we may face uncertainty and doubt in our journey, but Jesus assures us that he is always with us, guiding us. As St. Paul shares the Good News with both Jews and Gentiles, we too are called to share this message of hope with others. Let us live each day with trust in God’s plan, knowing that our true home is in him. May we follow Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and may we always remember that no matter what challenges we face, he is our ultimate hope and salvation.