Daily Readings - Sat May 03 2025
1 Corinthians
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
John
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the heart of our Christian faith: the resurrection of Christ and the profound truth that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 emphasizes the centrality of the Gospel message. Paul reminds the Corinthians of the Good News he preached to them—the death and resurrection of Christ for our sins, as foretold in the Scriptures. He lists the eyewitnesses who saw the risen Lord, including Cephas, the eleven apostles, and even Paul himself. This passage underscores the historical and theological foundation of our faith: Christ’s victory over death is not a myth but a reality witnessed by many, and it is the very reason we stand as believers today.
The Gospel from John 14:6-14 deepens this message. Jesus declares, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This bold statement is both a revelation and a challenge. Jesus is not merely a teacher or a moral guide; He is the very embodiment of God’s love and truth. When Philip asks to see the Father, Jesus responds that seeing Him is seeing the Father, for He and the Father are one. This passage invites us to contemplate the mystery of the Trinity and the intimate union between the Father and the Son. It also calls us to trust in Jesus’ words and works, for they are not His own but flow from the Father who dwells within Him.
These readings are deeply connected. The resurrection of Christ, which Paul proclaims, is the ultimate proof of Jesus’ divinity and the fulfillment of the Father’s plan. Jesus’ words in John 14 remind us that the resurrection is not just an event in history but a living reality that transforms our lives. Through faith in Christ, we are united to the Father and empowered to do even greater works than Jesus did. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we truly believe that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life? Do we live in a way that reflects this belief? May we allow the risen Christ to guide us, to fill us with His truth, and to lead us to the Father. In Him, we find hope, purpose, and eternal life.