The Only Way

“ I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.”

First Reading:  Acts 6:1-7

          Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch'orus, and Nica'nor, and Ti'mon, and Par'menas, and Nicola'us, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Psalm: Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9

          Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God's sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame."

          To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, "The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner," and "A stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall"; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Gospel: John 14:1-12

          "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him."

          Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves."Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.

Reflection
By Benj Santiago

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

After Christ resurrected and ascended into heaven, the early Christians continually grew in numbers as the disciples spread the word of God. People from different countries and faith were converted to Christianity. But most of them were still confused as to how to find God the Father and they wanted to see God. Even the disciples, in spite of the closeness they have with Jesus, they still did not have the faith to see God the Father in Him. I can sense the frustration Jesus had when He said: “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me”.

Jesus is the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him! Jesus is the only way to the Father. We cannot go to the Father if we don’t follow Jesus. Jesus is the truth that will set us free, He is the true God that we need to believe in. Jesus is the life that is everlasting. 

In my own journey of finding God, there were also confusion and doubts that clouded my mind if Jesus is really one with the Father. The Holy Trinity remains a mystery I cannot fathom. But as I study the word of God, my faith is strengthened and my belief is renewed. I no longer doubt but believe that Jesus is indeed the only way to the Father and that the Father is in Him.

Jesus is God and our Savior. Let us strengthen our faith in Him. Let us be Jesus for other. Let us be firm in our belief that Jesus is the only way, and His words are the truth, and that if we follow Him, we will have life everlasting.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, we thank You for coming to this world to redeem us from our sins. We thank You for showing us the way to Your Father. We thank You for Your words that gives us everlasting life. We ask You Lord to strengthen our faith in You and make us like You for others. That we may also lead the people we love to Your Father in heaven. Amen.