23 April 2027 · Latin Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: Syro-Malabar Rite · Syro-Malankara Rite · മലയാളം
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”” John 14:6
Paul continues his sermon in the synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia. He speaks with warmth to his own people and to the God-fearers: “My brothers, you descendants of Abraham's family, and others who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.” He tells, briefly and honestly, what happened in Jerusalem: those in authority there did not recognize Jesus or understand the prophets read every sabbath, and “even though they found no cause for a sentence of death, they asked Pilate to have him killed.” They took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. Then comes the heart of every apostolic sermon: “But God raised him from the dead.” The Resurrection is God's own answer to the injustice of the Cross. It is not a private feeling of the disciples; it is a public fact with witnesses: “for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and they are now his witnesses to the people.”
Paul tells his hearers that this is good news for them: “what God promised to our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus.” And he quotes the second Psalm, which today is also our responsorial psalm: “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.” In the Psalm these words were spoken over the king of Israel on the day of his anointing. Paul hears in them the Father's voice on Easter morning, raising his Son and enthroning him as the true King. The Church reads this passage with care. When Luke speaks of “the residents of Jerusalem and their leaders,” he is not blaming a whole people. Paul himself is a Jew speaking to Jews, and he calls them “brothers” and “children” of the promise. The Church teaches that all sinners were the authors of Christ's Passion, and that the Jews are not to be presented as rejected or accursed (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598).
The Gospel takes us again to the Upper Room. Jesus knows his friends are frightened: he has spoken of betrayal, of Peter's denial, of going away. So he says: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.” He is going ahead to prepare a place, and he will come back to take them with him. Thomas, honest as ever, objects: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” And Jesus answers with one of the greatest sentences in the Gospel: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Not a map, but a person. Today the Church honours two martyrs who walked that way to the end. St George, a soldier according to ancient tradition, died for Christ at Lydda in Palestine, probably in the persecution of Diocletian, and has been loved in East and West ever since. St Adalbert, bishop of Prague, gave his life as a missionary among the pagan Prussians in 997. For both, Jesus was the way, and death was only the last step home to the Father's house.
Theme: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
God's answer to the Cross, the peace Jesus gives to troubled hearts, and two martyrs who walked his way to the end.
“I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have begotten you.”” Psalm 2:7
“But God raised him from the dead;” Acts 13:30
Apply: When you meet injustice this week, pray: Lord, you have the last word, and your word is life.
“do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
““Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”” John 14:1
Apply: Give your greatest worry to Jesus tonight in a few honest words, and leave it with him.
“You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”” John 14:6
Apply: Pray today for a Christian community that suffers for the faith, and ask the martyrs for courage in your own small trials.
The Resurrection is God's answer to the injustice of the Cross and the fulfilment of his promises.
Christ is the way to the Father's house; the martyrs followed him there, and he calls us to follow.
Take-home resolution: Each evening this week, say: Jesus, you are my way; I trust you.
Dear friends, Paul preaches to his own people in the synagogue. He calls them brothers, children of Abraham. He tells them what happened to Jesus: though no cause for death was found, he was condemned, taken down from the tree, laid in a tomb. And then the words that are the heart of our faith: but God raised him from the dead (Acts 13:30).
The Resurrection is God's answer to every injustice. When the world says the last word is death, God says: life. And there are witnesses. The apostles saw him, ate with him, and gave their lives for this truth.
In the Gospel Jesus sees his friends afraid. He says: do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me (John 14:1). He promises a place in his Father's house, with many dwelling places. There is room for you there.
Thomas asks: Lord, how can we know the way? And Jesus answers: I am the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6). The way to the Father is not a set of directions; it is a person to follow.
Today we remember two martyrs. St George, a soldier, refused to deny Christ and was killed in Palestine. Here in Kerala we love him as Geevarghese Sahada. St Adalbert, a bishop, went to preach Christ to a pagan people and was killed in 997. For them, Jesus was the way, even when the way led through death.
We may not be asked to die for Christ. But we are asked every day to choose his way, his truth, his life. Let us ask St George and St Adalbert for courage. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Alleluia. Amen.
Children, Jesus said: in my Father's house there are many rooms, and I am getting one ready for you!
St George was a brave soldier who loved Jesus more than anything. Let us say: Jesus, make me brave like St George!
Lord Jesus Christ, way, truth and life, no one comes to the Father except through you. When our hearts are troubled, steady them with faith in you. You have gone ahead to prepare a place for us in the Father's house; keep us on the way that leads there. Through the prayers of St George, who gave his life for you, and of St Adalbert, who preached your Gospel to the end, make us brave witnesses of your Resurrection, and strengthen all who suffer for your name today. You live and reign for ever and ever. Alleluia. Amen.