Friday, May 1, 2026

 

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

In driving out its merchants, Jesus equated the Temple with his Father’s house.  “’… stop making my Father’s house a marketplace,’” he said.  He also likened the Temple to his own body.  “’Destroy this Temple,’” he added referring to his body, “’and in three days I will raise it up.’”  In today’s passage he speaks of going to his Father’s house to prepare places for his disciples. Of course, he is not speaking of tidying guest rooms.  Rather he has in mind making his disciples members of his Body.

He does this, as Thomas understandably does not yet realize, by suffering crucifixion and rising from the dead.  It is a brutal road.  Jesus is the one whose heart should be troubled.  But he bravely underplays his own emotion to take note of his disciples’ anxiety.

As members of Jesus’ Body, we too suffer and rise.  The experience brings us a new intimacy with God and with one another.  Suffering with Christ, we develop a dependence on the Father that magnifies faith.  We also acquire empathy – that virtue which enables solidarity with the poor.  We need not be troubled by Jesus' having gone away, only by our unwillingness to follow.  

Friday, May 16, 2025

 

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

John’s Gospel states that eternal life consists in knowing Christ.  He provides the company that not only lasts forever but also brings untold joy and peace.  As much as one follows Jesus, as much as one loves others as he has done, that person is on the way to eternal life.  So Jesus can correctly identify himself as the way, the truth, and the life.

Accepting these simple truths with so great implications require faith.  Jesus has implored his disciples to have this faith.  He has worked many signs so that they might believe in him.  He has also demonstrated this same kind of faith in his relationship with the Father. 

As Jesus prayed and trusted in the Father, we should pray and trust in him.  We should not think that our humanness is different from Jesus’.  As he was able to reach beyond the horizon of physical knowledge to what the eye cannot see, so can we.  Doing so will put us on the way of life.

Friday, May 13, 2022

 Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

The disciples’ hearts are troubled because Jesus is leaving them.  They have trusted him not only as the Son of God but as their intimate friend.  They wonder how they can get along without him.

For all their love of him, however, the disciples miss the purpose of his coming.  Jesus must give himself as an offering to God for sin.  Only in this way can they and everyone else come to the fullness of life.  He, therefore, is the way because he proclaims the truth of the Father which is life in the full.  He is also the same life because he and the Father are one.  One can think of Jesus as a roadmap whose directions truly lead to God in whose company the fullness of life is experienced.

Jesus has returned to us in the sacraments.  He lives in the Church to which Baptism admits us and in which the Eucharist keeps us.  Remaining close to him in the Church we grow in virtue until we see God face to face.

Friday, April 30, 2021

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

Christians have been buried with their corpses facing East for centuries.  Two reasons recommend this arrangement.  First, as today’s gospel says, Jesus has promised to return and bring them to the house of his Father.  Second, associated with the rising sun, he is thought to be coming from that direction.  Although the Church does not require burial with head directed eastward, the posture expresses faith in Jesus’ words.

In today’s gospel, Jesus also tells his disciples not to be afraid.  He is especially concerned that they do not fear death.  Even though death halts worldly existence, Jesus indicates that it is not the absolute end.  Rather he assures them that the Father has prepared a new life for them in his celestial home.  They have only to continue practicing what he has taught.

We know that following Jesus’ directives sometimes results in difficulties.  Telling the truth may mean jeopardizing our material welfare.  Turning the other cheek may mean our total loss of face in the community.  Nevertheless, we follow Jesus not only because of the eternal destiny that he promises.  We do so as well because of the more immediate benefits he provides.  He uplifts our spirits through the gospel.  And he supports us morally with his presence in the Church. 

Friday, May 8, 2020

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

In the Gospel according to John, Jesus describes himself with many illustrative metaphors.  He says, “’I am the light of the world’”; “’I am the bread of life; “’I am the good shepherd,’” and so forth.  These images shake our way of thinking to help us realize that Jesus is more than human.  He touches every dimension of our existence.  He is the light that illumines our minds, the bread that increases our strength, and the shepherd who changes our destiny.  In today’s gospel Jesus proclaims, “’I am the way, the truth, and the life.’”  How is he “the way”?  What does he mean by calling himself “the truth” and “the life”?

Jesus is “the way” to God, his Father.  In the Gospel of Matthew he says the way to salvation is narrow and traversed by few.  And so it is difficult to follow Jesus’ path of selfless love.  But he is “the way” as well because he provides all the help that is needed in the sacraments.  He corrects our errant tendencies in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  He fortifies our drooping spirits in the Eucharist. 

Jesus is “the way” because he is “the truth” and “the life.”  He is “the truth” in two senses.  First, he reveals the Father’s love for the world and how the Father expects the world to respond.  Second, as God, Jesus is the foundation of all truth.  When scientists find a remedy for the Corona-19 virus, we will say, “thank God,” because God is the source of all truth.

When Jesus calls himself “the life,” he means something more than biological life.  He has “life in abundance” or “eternal life” in mind.  This is life full of joy, peace, and love.  It is the life of a saint like John XXIII.  The good pope, whom many today still remember, would not allow the worries of his office take away his smile.  We strive to live this life now and look forward to it in the resurrection of the dead.

Friday, May 17, 2019

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

In today’s gospel Jesus declares himself as “…the truth.”  He means that he is the highest truth because he reveals God the Father.  In reaching for this truth, the scholar does not abandon the truth found in nature.  The physical sciences discover much that leads to God.  Nor should people think that the truth that is Jesus is different from the truth they are supposed to tell in daily life.  When we conform our words to reality, they will eventually tell of Jesus.  Nevertheless, God still belongs to another order than humans.  Jesus, who is one with the Father, has made Him known as much as humans are capable of understanding.

The pregnant gospel passage hints in different ways to the Father.  He is beneficent, that is, ready to shelter those who come to Him in need.  To reach Him one must follow Jesus, the way.  Jesus has just washed the feet of his disciples and told them to do the same to one another.  To follow Jesus, then, is to care for one another by providing service.  Finally, God bestows life.  More than being the source of life, God gives life in its fullness sense.  He enables humans to thrive, to be all that they can be.  In the end this means that all humans become Jesus-like.

Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.”  We might say that he is the true roadmap to happiness.  When we follow him we will neither lose our way nor become tired and disillusioned.  We will find ourselves ever satisfied, ever grateful.

Friday, April 27, 2018

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

During the first years of the Church, Christians considered themselves members of “the Way.”  They were not the first group to do so.  Essenes, living in the desert, also identified themselves by that name.  Of course, “way” here does not designate a road as friends living on Willow Way. Rather, “the Way” indicates a form of living, a “way of life.”  Jesus’ disciple in today’s gospel confuses these two senses of “way.”

Jesus is trying to console his companions as he prepares to leave them.  He gives them the reason for his departure - to prepare a place for them in the family home.  He adds that he will return to take them to his Father’s eternal home.  Finally, he says that they know “the way” to go until his return.  At this point Philip, who at the beginning of the gospel was eager to follow Jesus, demurs.  He claims ignorance of “the way” as if following Jesus were a matter of walking up an avenue.

We know “the way” of Jesus.  It is conforming ourselves to his mode of love.  Where that word has been terribly distorted these days, we strive to restore its original meaning.  We seek the well-being of one another without worrying about the cost to ourselves.  This is the way that Jesus has shown us.

Friday, May 12, 2017

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

People’s hearts become troubled when they have a terminal disease.  They worry about a poor quality of life which includes issues of severe pain, loss of control, and becoming a burden to others.  Hand in hand with quality of life, people desire control over their death.  They also are concerned that their choices will not be honored.  Jesus offers some consolation to those whose death is imminent in today’s gospel.

He tells his followers not to let their hearts be troubled.  Of course, they are disturbed that Jesus is going to die, not they.  Yet the anguish over loss is at least similar.  Jesus assures them that he is going for their benefit and that he will return.  Further, he implies that they can follow him by living in the ways that he has instructed.

We should not expect that everyone embrace Jesus’ assurances when death comes knocking.  To those who resist wanting to take their own lives we can offer some reasons not to.  First, taking one’s life has become trendy leading to others feeling pressured into doing something they do not want to do.  Second, they do not have to use all the mechanisms available to prolong life but may take advantage of effective palliative care.  Finally and most importantly, we will be there to the end helping them as much as reasonably possible. 

Friday, April 22, 2016

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

ISIS continues to wreak havoc on Christians not only in Syria and Iraq but also in Europe.  Meanwhile, the reaction in the United States is severe.  Political candidates want to bar all Muslims from entering the country.  There is good reason for hearts to be troubled.

Yet Jesus tells his disciples in today’s gospel not to worry.  He assures them that there is room for all in God’s kingdom.  He wants them to follow him as he leads the way to eternal life.

Supported by one another, we line up behind Jesus.  We will find Muslims in our company as well as members of other religious traditions.  We will not hear non-Christians express explicit faith in Jesus, but we see them like him refusing to hate their enemies.  We also notice them like him willing to forgive those who have hurt them deeply.

Friday, May 1, 2015

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

The Philippines will remember Douglas MacArthur for the words he spoke at his forced departure from the country at the beginning of World War II.  He promised the people, “I shall return,” and he did.  No doubt, some Filipinos joined the resistance to the Japanese invaders on the strength of MacArthur’s promise.  In the gospel today Jesus means to instill such confidence in his disciples with a similar promise. 

Jesus is having a farewell dinner with his disciples.  He does not want them to think that he will forget them.  Rather, he exhorts them to trust that he will come back for him.  Thomas objects that they will get lost in the meantime because they do not know the way.  He assures them that they do: “I am the way and the truth and the life.”  Jesus is the way; that is, following him leads to God.  He speaks the truth; that is, they have not been deceived about the way.  And he conveys life; that is, he has provided them strength for the journey in the Eucharist.

We sometimes find ourselves in bleak situations.  Perhaps we face job termination, mortgage foreclosure, or an “iffy” diagnosis.  We must not cower but be confident.  As Jesus spent his last night consoling his friends rather than seeking pity for himself so we can undergo our trials similarly trusting God.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

A university co-ed tells her roommates in the middle of a blizzard that her father is coming to pick her up.  “How can you be so sure he will get here?” the roommates ask.  “Because I am his favorite daughter,” the young woman replies.  In the gospel today Jesus means to instill such confidence in his disciples.    

The passage is taken from the beginning of the second part of John’s gospel, the so-called Book of Glory.  Jesus is giving a farewell speech to his disciples.  He does not want them to worry because he is leaving and so assures them that they will be all right.  Thomas expresses the uncertainty that they all feel.  Jesus answers that there is no need for fright since he is “the way and the truth and the life.”  That is, he is the way to the Father because he is the truth sent from the Father to give the supernatural life of the Father.

We sometimes find ourselves in bleak situations.  Perhaps we face job termination, mortgage foreclosure, or even terminal disease.  We are not to cower but to hope.  Jesus is one with the Father who called the Israelites out of slavery into a new marvelous land and raised the crucified to new life.  He will save us, his followers, from distress.

Friday. May 20, 2011

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

The Philippines will long remember Douglas MacArthur for the words he spoke at his forced departure from the country at the beginning of World War II. He promised the people, “I shall return,” and he did. No doubt, some Filipinos joined the resistance to the Japanese invaders on the strength of MacArthur’s promise. In the gospel today Jesus means to instill such confidence with a similar promise.

The passage is taken from the beginning of the second half of John’s gospel, the so-called Book of Glory. Jesus is making a farewell speech. He assures his disciples that he is not abandoning them but will be back. Thomas, like a child who cannot tolerate his parents leaving home, worries that something may happen. Jesus consoles him that all will be well because he is “the way and the truth and the life.” That is, Jesus is himself the way that leads to the Father because he is the only true image of the Father bestowing the Father’s life.

We sometimes find ourselves in bleak situations. Perhaps we face job termination, mortgage foreclosure, or an iffy diagnosis. We wonder if we will be all right. Jesus tells us, just as he assures Thomas, not to fret. He will return to assist us for he has established un in his Father’s family.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

A university co-ed tells her roommates in the middle of a blizzard that her father is coming to pick her up. “How can you be so sure he will get here?” the roommates ask. They add, “It’s impossible driving outside.” “Because I am his favorite daughter,” the young woman replies. In the gospel today Jesus means to instill such confidence in his disciples.

The passage is taken from the beginning of the second part of John’s gospel, the so-called Book of Glory. Jesus gives a long farewell speech to his disciples among whom we should see ourselves. He does not want us to worry because he is leaving us. Rather, he assures us that things are better this way. “Why?” we may ask, with the same uncertainty as Thomas displays in the passage. He answers because he is “the way and the truth and the life.” Jesus is the way, the one who leads us to God. He is the truth whose directions we can utterly rely on because he comes from the Father. And he is the life of which we partake in the Eucharist for strength on the journey.

We sometimes find ourselves in bleak situations. Perhaps we face job termination, mortgage foreclosure, or even terminal disease. We are not to cower but to be confident. Jesus sublimely demonstrates this trust on the cross. In John’s crucifixion Jesus does not suffer but reigns when he is crucified. As he predicted, he has drawn the whole world – friends, foes, even the Roman governor to the scene. He completes his work on earth by forming the Church -- his family of brothers and sisters – when he entrusts his mother to his beloved disciple and him to her. And he dies only when he is ready, after everything has been accomplished. Believing in him, we can face our trials with the same surety of spirit.

Homilette for Friday, May 8, 2009

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

The Philippines will remember Douglas MacArthur for the words he spoke at his forced departure from the country at the beginning of World War II. He promised the people, “I shall return,” and he did. No doubt, some Filipinos joined the resistance to the Japanese invaders on the strength of MacArthur’s promise. In the gospel today Jesus means to instill such confidence in his disciples with a similar promise.

The passage is taken from the beginning of the second part of John’s gospel, the so-called Book of Glory. Jesus is making a farewell speech to his disciples among whom we should see ourselves. He does not want us to think that he is leaving us behind. Rather, he wants us to trust in him. “Why?” we may ask with the same uncertainty as Thomas displays in the passage. He answers, because “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Jesus is the way that leads to God. He speaks the truth which shows us the way. And he conveys life in the Eucharist which provides us strength on the journey.

We sometimes find ourselves in bleak situations. Perhaps we face job termination, mortgage foreclosure, or an iffy diagnosis. We must not cower but be confident. Jesus sublimely demonstrates this trust on the cross. In John’s account of the crucifixion, Jesus is not perturbed in the least. He has completed the mission of his Father by his submission to death. Now he returns to Him in glory. We can and should face our trials by similarly trusting God.

Homilette for Friday, April 18, 2008

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(John 14:1-6)

A university co-ed told her roommates in the middle of a blizzard that her father was coming to pick her up. “How could you be so sure?” the roommates marveled, “It’s impossible driving outside.” “Because he said so,” the young woman only replied. In the gospel today Jesus means to instill such confidence in his disciples.

The passage is taken from the beginning of the second part of John’s gospel, the so-called Book of Signs. Jesus is giving a kind of farewell speech to his disciples among whom we should see ourselves. He does not want us to worry that he is leaving or has left us. Rather, we should trust in him. “Why?” we may ask, with the same uncertainty as Thomas displays in the passage. He answers: because “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Jesus is the way, the one whose imitation will bring us to God. He is the truth whose words we can rely on because he knows the Father. And he is the life of which we partake in the Eucharist for strength on the journey.

We sometimes find ourselves in bleak situations. Perhaps we face job termination, mortgage foreclosure, or even terminal disease. We are not to cower but to be confident. Jesus sublimely demonstrates this trust on the cross. In John’s crucifixion Jesus reigns like a king over his court. He has drawn the whole world – friends, foes, even the Roman governor to the scene. He completes his work on earth by instituting the church with his mother and beloved disciple. And he dies when he is ready. We can face our trials with the same tranquility of spirit.