Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II)
Readings at Mass
____
First reading
Acts 13:26-33
God has fulfilled his promise by raising Jesus from the dead
Paul stood up in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia, held up a hand for silence, and began to speak:
‘My brothers, sons of Abraham’s race, and all you who fear God, this message of salvation is meant for you. What the people of Jerusalem and their rulers did, though they did not realise it, was in fact to fulfil the prophecies read on every sabbath. Though they found nothing to justify his death, they condemned him and asked Pilate to have him executed. When they had carried out everything that scripture foretells about him they took him down from the tree and buried him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem: and it is these same companions of his who are now his witnesses before our people.
‘We have come here to tell you the Good News. It was to our ancestors that God made the promise but it is to us, their children, that he has fulfilled it, by raising Jesus from the dead. As scripture says in the second psalm: You are my son: today I have become your father.’
Commentary
Paul's second half of the speech to the Jews closely resembles Peter's speech at Pentecost. Both emphasize the fulfillment of prophecies in the resurrection of Christ, with the apostles as witnesses. However, Paul introduces two new proof texts not used by Peter, highlighting the fulfillment of promises made to David in the Risen Christ.
In a new twist, Paul addresses not only Jews but also 'God-fearers', also known as 'proselytes' or 'reverence'. These individuals were attracted to Judaism but had not fully committed, such as through circumcision. They were drawn to Judaism's moral values, unlike the pagan gods of Rome or the worship of the Emperor. They needed a strong knowledge of the Bible from attending synagogues to understand Paul's scriptural proofs. Interestingly, Paul uses more biblical references in his letters to some communities (Galatians and Romans) compared to others (Thessalonians and Philippians), suggesting varying levels of familiarity with the Bible among different groups.
____
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 2:6-11
You are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day.
or
Alleluia!
‘It is I who have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.’
I will announce the decree of the Lord:
The Lord said to me: ‘You are my Son.
It is I who have begotten you this day.
You are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day.
or
Alleluia!
‘Ask and I shall bequeath you the nations,
put the ends of the earth in your possession.
With a rod of iron you will break them,
shatter them like a potter’s jar.’
You are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day.
or
Alleluia!
Now, O kings, understand,
take warning, rulers of the earth;
serve the Lord with awe
and trembling, pay him your homage.
You are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day.
or
Alleluia!
____
Gospel Acclamation
Col3:1
Alleluia, alleluia!
Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ,
you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is,
sitting at God’s right hand.
Alleluia!
Or:
Jn14:6
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;
No one can come to the Father except through me.
Alleluia!
____
Gospel
John 14:1-6
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God still, and trust in me.
There are many rooms in my Father’s house;
if there were not, I should have told you.
I am going now to prepare a place for you,
and after I have gone and prepared you a place,
I shall return to take you with me;
so that where I am
you may be too.
You know the way to the place where I am going.’
Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus said:
‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.’
Commentary
The Gospel reading we have today is from the beginning of Jesus' discourse after the Last Supper. It's like a farewell speech from a leader, getting his followers ready to continue his work after he's gone. Jesus, about to head to the Garden of Olives to prepare for his sacrificial death, gives instructions to his chosen disciples on how to carry on his mission and assures them of his presence through the Spirit. It's a good reminder for us to reflect on these words as we anticipate the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost and renew our own mission to the world.
Start with a call for faith in Jesus, which is essentially faith in the Father. Faith isn't just about agreeing intellectually, but also about trusting and having confidence in Jesus to care for everything. Thomas, one of the disciples, doesn't quite get it - this won't be the last time he struggles with accepting challenges, like when he doubts the Resurrection. It's interesting to see a chosen disciple hesitating and trying to avoid the challenge right at the beginning of the discourse, something we all tend to do at times.
Jesus responds with the powerful words, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life'. He's the way because he embodies truth and life. We've seen this truth in his teachings, especially when he's referred to as Wisdom from heaven in the Bread of Life discourse. He represents life through the promise of life-giving water, eternal life, and the resurrection of Lazarus.
----------
The context: Jesus consoles his apostles who are sad and disheartened at the prospect of his arrest and crucifixion by assuring them that he is going to prepare an everlasting accommodation for them in his Father’s house in Heaven. He gives them the assurance that he will come back to take them to their Heavenly abodes. It is then that Thomas says to Jesus, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus answers Thomas’ question with, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.”
Life messages: We should share the Divine Life of God by making use of the means Jesus established in his Church: a) by actively participating in the Eucharistic celebration and properly receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion; b) by the worthy reception of the other Sacraments; c) by the meditative daily reading of the Word of God; d) by following the guidance of the life-giving Spirit of God, living in the Church and within us; e) by communicating with God the Source of Life, in personal and family prayers; f) by going to God to be reconciled with Him daily, repenting of our sins; g) by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation (yearly, at a minimum), whenever we are in mortal sin (so that we can receive Him in the Eucharist); h) by forgiving others who offend us; and i) by asking God’s forgiveness of our own sins.
