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3 May 2024 - Friday of the 5th week of Eastertide - Readings

Saints Philip and James, Apostles - Feast 
Liturgical Colour: Red. Year: B(II)
Readings at Mass
________

First reading
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 

The Lord appeared to James, and then to all the apostles

Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established; because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you – believing anything else will not lead to anything.
    Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared first to Cephas and secondly to the Twelve. Next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it.

Commentary

  1. Crucial Gospel Foundation: Paul underscores the core of the gospel, emphasizing Christ's death, burial, and resurrection as essential truths that form the foundation of Christian faith.

  2. Multiple Eyewitnesses: The resurrection is validated by numerous eyewitnesses, including Peter, the apostles, and over five hundred believers, providing strong evidence for its reality.

  3. Significance of James' Encounter: Jesus appearing to James, likely His brother, is significant, as it transformed James from doubter to devout follower, highlighting the resurrection's life-changing power.

  4. Collective Apostolic Testimony: The apostles collectively testify to Christ's resurrection, affirming its truth and serving as a foundational aspect of the Christian message.

  5. Resurrection's Central Role: Paul emphasizes that without Christ's resurrection, faith would be futile, and believers would remain in sin, underscoring the resurrection's indispensable role in the gospel narrative.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 18(19):2-5

Their word goes forth through all the earth.
or
Alleluia!

The heavens proclaim the glory of God,
    and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story
    and night unto night makes known the message.

Their word goes forth through all the earth.
or
Alleluia!

No speech, no word, no voice is heard
    yet their span extends through all the earth,
    their words to the utmost bounds of the world.

Their word goes forth through all the earth.
or
Alleluia!
________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn14:6,9

Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, says the Lord.
Philip, to have seen me is to have seen the Father.
Alleluia!
________

Gospel
John 14:6-14

To have seen me is to have seen the father

Jesus said to Thomas:
‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.
If you know me, you know my Father too.
From this moment you know him and have seen him.’
Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.’
    ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip,’ said Jesus to him ‘and you still do not know me?
‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father,
so how can you say, “Let us see the Father”?
Do you not believe
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself:
it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work.
You must believe me when I say
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me;
believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.
I tell you most solemnly,
whoever believes in me
will perform the same works as I do myself,
he will perform even greater works,
because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask for in my name I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask for anything in my name,
I will do it.’

Commentary

  1. Exclusive Path to the Father: Jesus declares Himself as the exclusive way to the Father, emphasizing that He is the embodiment of truth and life. This assertion asserts the uniqueness of Christ as the only means by which humanity can attain reconciliation with God.

  2. Identity with the Father: Jesus' statement, "To have seen me is to have seen the Father," reveals His intimate connection with the Father. As the Son of God, Jesus perfectly reflects the character, nature, and will of the Father, providing believers with a tangible manifestation of God's presence and love.

  3. Promise of Answered Prayer: Jesus assures His disciples that they can ask anything in His name, and He will do it. This promise underscores the power of prayer and the importance of aligning one's requests with God's will as revealed through Jesus.

  4. Authority Given to Believers: Jesus empowers His followers by granting them authority to perform works greater than His own. This declaration highlights the transformative impact of faith in Christ, enabling believers to participate in God's redemptive work and advance His kingdom on earth.

  5. The Interconnectedness of the Trinity: Jesus' words affirm the inseparable unity between Himself, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus, believers have access to the Father and receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, experiencing the fullness of God's divine love and guidance.


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