Daily Readings - Wed May 03 2017

First Reading - 1 Corinthians 15.1-8

¹And so I make known to you, brothers, the Gospel that I preached to you, which you also received, and on which you stand²By the Gospel, too, you are being saved, if you hold to the understanding that I preached to you, lest you believe in vain³For I handed on to you, first of all, what I also received: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures⁴and that he was buried; and that he rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures⁵and that he was seen by Cephas, and after that by the eleven⁶Next he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, many of whom remain, even to the present time, although some have fallen asleep⁷Next, he was seen by James, then by all the Apostles⁸And last of all, he was seen also by me, as if I were someone born at the wrong time

Gospel - John 14.6-14

John

Chapter 14

⁶Jesus said to him: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me⁷If you had known me, certainly you would also have known my Father. And from now on, you shall know him, and you have seen him.⁸Philip said to him, "Lord, reveal the Father to us, and it is enough for us.⁹Jesus said to him: "Have I been with you for so long, and you have not known me? Philip, whoever sees me, also sees the Father. How can you say, ‘Reveal the Father to us?¹⁰Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I am speaking to you, I do not speak from myself. But the Father abiding in me, he does these works¹¹Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me¹²Or else, believe because of these same works. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me shall also do the works that I do. And greater things than these shall he do, for I go to the Father¹³And whatever you shall ask the Father in my name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son¹⁴If you shall ask anything of me in my name, that I will do

Sermon

In today’s readings, we delve into the heart of Christian faith, exploring the resurrection and the divine identity of Jesus. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 emphasizes the core of the Gospel—Christ’s death for our sins and his resurrection. Paul underscores the eyewitness accounts of the risen Jesus, reinforcing the historical and theological foundation of our faith. This passage, written to a struggling Corinthian church, reminds us that our faith is rooted in these events, which are not just historical but transformative. The Gospel from John 14:6-14 presents Jesus during the Last Supper, where he declares himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He assures his disciples that seeing him is seeing the Father, highlighting the unity between him and God. This intimate conversation offers comfort and instruction, reassuring the disciples (and us) that faith in Jesus leads to a profound connection with the Father. Jesus’s promise that believers will do greater works reflects the empowerment through faith and the Holy Spirit. These readings connect by highlighting the central tenets of Christianity: the resurrection and the divinity of Christ. They remind us that faith in Jesus is not just belief but a lived experience. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in the resurrection and recognize that our actions reflect our connection to Christ. As we navigate life’s challenges, let us embrace this faith, allowing it to transform us and inspire us to serve others in Jesus’s name. May we live in such a way that our lives mirror Christ’s presence within us, leading others to experience God’s love and truth.