Daily Readings - Sun May 14 2017
1 Peter
4As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him--5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, "8and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
John
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.4You know the way to the place where I am going."5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of our identity as followers of Christ and the profound relationship we share with God. The second reading from 1 Peter describes us as “living stones,” built upon the cornerstone of Christ, forming a spiritual house and a holy priesthood. This passage emphasizes that we are not just individuals but a community called to offer spiritual sacrifices and to proclaim the virtues of God, who has brought us out of darkness into his marvelous light. The Gospel from John further deepens this understanding, as Jesus assures his disciples—and us—that he is preparing a place for us in his Father’s house. He reveals himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the only path to the Father. This revelation is not just an intellectual truth but a living, transformative reality that shapes how we understand ourselves and our purpose in the world.
The readings are deeply connected, as both emphasize our identity as God’s chosen people and our dependence on Christ. In 1 Peter, we are called to live out our faith in a way that reflects our union with Christ, the living stone. In John’s Gospel, Jesus underscores that this union is not merely symbolic but deeply personal and relational. He is the Way, meaning that our journey toward God is not about our own efforts but about trusting in him. He is the Truth, meaning that our understanding of the world and ourselves must be rooted in his revelation. He is the Life, meaning that our very existence finds its ultimate meaning and purpose in him. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on how we are living out this identity and relationship in our daily lives.
As we apply these readings to our lives, let us ask ourselves: Am I living as a “living stone,” contributing to the spiritual house that is the Church? Am I trusting in Christ as the Way, even when the path is uncertain? Am I allowing his Truth to shape my thoughts, words, and actions? Am I living as one who has been brought out of darkness into his marvelous light? The moral lesson here is clear: our identity and purpose are rooted in Christ. We are called to be his presence in the world, to proclaim his virtues, and to trust in his promise of eternal life. May we embrace this call with faith, hope, and love, knowing that we are not alone but are part of a holy priesthood, a chosen generation, and a people set apart for God’s glory.