Daily Readings - Mon May 03 2021
1 Corinthians
1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
John
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.13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.14You may ask me for anything in my name, and 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.