Daily Readings - Sat May 03 2025
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: 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.